Defence★ Must Know

DRDO and IAF conduct maiden flight trial of indigenous TARA glide weapon

By TestNeeti Editorial TeamPublished Monday, 6 July 2026 2 min readSource: thenewsmill.comArticle 13 of 26

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully carried out the maiden flight trial of the Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA) weapon off the coast of Odisha, according to the Defence Ministry. TARA is India's first indigenous glide weapon system, designed to convert unguided warheads into precision-guided weapons using a modular range extension kit, improving the lethality and accuracy of a low-cost weapon against ground-based targets. It was developed by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories, along with Development cum Production Partners (DcPP) and Indian industries, which have already begun production. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat congratulated the teams involved.

Key Facts & Details

8 points

1
DRDO and the IAF conducted the maiden flight trial of the TARA weapon off the coast of Odisha.
2
TARA (Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation) is India's first indigenous glide weapon system.
3
It converts unguided warheads into precision-guided weapons using a modular range extension kit for low-cost, accurate strikes on ground targets.
4
TARA was developed by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, with other DRDO laboratories.
5
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat congratulated the teams on the successful trial.

Deep Dive

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The glide weapon is described as the first to incorporate advanced low-cost systems.
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Its development involved Development cum Production Partners (DcPP) and other Indian industries, which have already commenced production activities.
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Rajnath Singh called the trial a significant advancement in India's indigenous defence capabilities.

Exam Focus

What is TARA, and which DRDO laboratory developed it?

Exam Relevance & Angle

Indigenous defence systems like TARA are high-yield exam facts, where the full form, the 'first indigenous glide weapon' distinction, the developing lab (RCI) and the test location (Odisha) are precise, examiner-favoured details linked to Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence.

Target Exams

SBI POSBI ClerkIBPS POIBPS ClerkRBI Grade BSSC CGLSSC CHSLSSC CPORRB NTPCUPSC CSEState PCS

Background & Context

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is India's premier agency for military research and development, operating a network of specialised laboratories. A glide weapon is an air-launched munition with folding wings or lifting surfaces that allow it to glide toward a target after release, extending its range without a rocket motor. Precision-guidance kits fitted to otherwise unguided 'dumb' bombs turn them into accurate, standoff weapons at relatively low cost, a concept widely used by advanced air forces. The Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in Hyderabad is a key DRDO lab specialising in missile and avionics technologies, supporting India's drive for self-reliant defence manufacturing.