DRDO and IAF conduct maiden flight-trial of TARA, India's first indigenous glide weapon kit
On 7 May 2026 DRDO and the Indian Air Force conducted the maiden flight-trial of the Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA) weapon off the Odisha coast, India's first indigenous glide weapon system that turns unguided warheads into precision-guided weapons.
Summary
The Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA) weapon, a modular range-extension kit and India's first indigenous glide weapon system to convert unguided warheads into precision-guided weapons, had its maiden flight-trial off the coast of Odisha on 7 May 2026, conducted by DRDO and the Indian Air Force. TARA was designed and developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, with other DRDO laboratories to make a low-cost weapon more lethal and accurate against ground targets, and is the first glide weapon to use low-cost systems. Development-cum-Production Partners and other Indian industries have already begun production. Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh and DRDO Chairman Dr Samir V Kamat congratulated the teams.
Key facts
- Trial
- Maiden flight-trial, 7 May 2026, off Odisha coast
- By
- DRDO and Indian Air Force
- What
- Modular range-extension kit; India's first indigenous glide weapon to make unguided warheads precision-guided
- Developer
- Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, with other DRDO labs
- Production
- Development-cum-Production Partners and Indian industry
Practice MCQs 3 questions
What is TARA, whose maiden flight-trial DRDO and the IAF conducted in May 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — India's first indigenous glide weapon kit that converts unguided warheads into precision-guided weapons
TARA (Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation) is a modular range-extension kit, India's first indigenous glide weapon system to convert unguided warheads into precision-guided weapons.
Which DRDO laboratory designed and developed the TARA glide weapon kit?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad
TARA was designed and developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, along with other DRDO laboratories.
Along with DRDO, which service conducted the maiden flight-trial of the TARA weapon on 7 May 2026, and where?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Indian Air Force, off the coast of Odisha
DRDO and the Indian Air Force conducted the maiden flight-trial off the coast of Odisha.