India successfully conducts maiden flight trial of indigenous TARA weapon system
India successfully carried out the maiden flight trial of the indigenously developed Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA) weapon system off the coast of Odisha, the Ministry of Defence announced.
Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with the Indian Air Force (IAF), TARA is India’s first indigenous glide weapon system designed to convert unguided warheads into precision-guided weapons.
The Ministry of Defence said the successful trial marked a major milestone in strengthening India’s indigenous defence capabilities and improving precision strike technology.
According to the ministry, the TARA system has been designed and developed by Hyderabad-based Research Centre Imarat (RCI) along with other DRDO laboratories.
Officials said the modular range extension kit enhances the accuracy and lethality of low-cost weapons for targeting ground-based objectives.
The Defence Ministry also stated that TARA is the first glide weapon in India to use advanced low-cost systems for precision engagement.
Confirming the development, DRDO posted on social media platform X that the maiden flight trial of the Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation weapon was successfully conducted on May 7, 2026, off the Odisha coast.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the Indian Air Force and industry partners associated with the project for the successful trial.
He described the achievement as a significant step forward in advancing India’s self-reliance in defence technology and indigenous weapon development.
The successful test comes amid India’s continued push to strengthen domestic defence manufacturing and reduce dependence on imported military systems.
