Aeronautical Development Establishment

Aeronautical Development Establishment

Established	1959
Field of research	Aeronautics
Director	Shri Y Dilip [1]
Address	New Thippasandra, Bangalore–560 075
Location	Bengaluru, Karnataka
Operating agency	DRDO
Website	www.drdo.ade.gov.in

Aeronautical Development Establishment is a laboratory of India's Defence Research and Development Organisation. Located in Bangalore, its primary function is research and development in the field of military aviation. ^[2]

Recent^{[ when? ]} successful projects include Lakshya (an aerial target), Nishant (a reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle), Ghatak, Nirbhay (a subsonic cruise missile), flight simulators (for LCA, Ajit, Kiran, and Mig-21) and avionics packages for Tejas-LCA (display and FCC). It earlier worked on Sparrow (mini-uav) and Ulka (aerial target).

Shri Y Dilip, Outstanding Scientist is Director of Aeronautical Development Establishment since 1 January 2022.

History

Aeronautical Development Establishment was established in January 1959 at High Grounds, Bangalore. ^[3] To combine the development and certification of flight systems and avionics, the Flight Control System Integration Complex was set up at ADE. It will provide pilots with simulated training. It serves as a focal location for the development and integration of flight control systems as well as for accelerating the development of avionics and hardware for both manned and unmanned systems. FCS Complex will create and validate flight control systems for Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft and the HAL Tejas Mk2. ^{[4] [5]}

ADE Directors [3]
Dr O.P. Mediratta Wg Cdr P Gopalan Vivek R. Sinha Air Cmde H.N. Krishnamurthy AVM H.N. Krishnamurthy B.G. Patwardhan Dr. Kota Harinarayana Dr. K.G. Narayanan M.D. Aravamudhan G. Elangovan P.S. Krishnan P. Srikumar MVKV Prasad [6] Dr Venugopal S

Technology divisions

• Aerodynamics Division ^[7]
• Aircraft Structures Design Centre
• Propulsion Systems Division
• Flight Control Computer Division
• Flight Simulation Division
• Flight Control Test Systems
• Flight Test Telecommand and Tracking Division
• Flight Mechanics and Control Engineering
• Software Engineering Division - LCA
• Software Engineering Division -UAV
• Mission Sensors Technology Division
• Avionics Systems Division
• Assembly and Integration Centre for UAVs
• Aerial Image Exploitation Laboratory
• Composite Technology Centre
• Quality & Airworthiness
• Combat Aircraft Systems - TEJAS
• Flight Simulation

Products

Digital Fly by Wire Flight Control Computer for Tejas MK1A

Digital Flight Control Computer

The Digital Fly by Wire Flight Control Computer (DFCC) was designed and developed for the Tejas Mark 1A programme. Complying with DO-178C level-A safety criteria for on-board software, it has a quadruple redundant MPC5566 PowerPC-based CPU, a high-speed autonomous state machine-based I/O controller, and increased computational throughput. The first flight of the DFCC, which was installed into Tejas LSP-7 aircraft, took place on February 19, 2024. The performance of the flight controls and all important parameters were deemed adequate. The Tejas Mk1A uses DFCC Mk1A variant for high performance flight control operations. ^{[8] [9] [10] [11]}

On 19 February 2024, Tejas Mk1A successfully completed its first flight with DFCC. ^{[12] [13]} The existing 32-bit DFCC will be replaced by a new 64-bit DFCC as part of the Super Sukhoi project. ^{[14] [15]} For AMCA, ADE is developing a next-generation DFCC with 25 times the processing power of the DFCC Mk1A model. It will feature multi-role capabilities, sophisticated stealth management, and AI-enhanced autonomy. ^{[16] [17] [18]}

References

1. "Aeronautical Development Establishment". Archived from the original on 29 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
2. "DRDO Labs". Archived from the original on 26 December 2007. Retrieved 8 February 2008.
3. "Historical Background". Archived from the original on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
4. "Raksha Mantri inaugurates Flight Control System Integration complex, constructed by DRDO in record 45 days using in-house hybrid technology, in Bengaluru". Press Information Bureau . Ministry of Defence, Government of India. 17 March 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
5. Kadidal, Akhil (21 March 2022). "India creates unified flight control system integration facility". janes.com. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
6. "M V K V Prasad appointed new Director of Aeronautical Development Establishment". The Economic Times. 11 July 2018. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
7. "ADE : Areas of Work". Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
8. "Digital Flight Control Computer for Tejas Mk1A Flown successfully". Press Information Bureau . Ministry of Defence, Government of India. 20 February 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
9. "Tejas Jet Flies Successfully With India-Made Digital Flight Control System". ndtv.com. 20 February 2024. Archived from the original on 13 June 2025. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
10. Negi, Manjeet (21 February 2024). "Tejas jet takes first flight with made-in-India digital flight control system". India Today. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
11. "DIGITAL FLIGHT CONTROL COMPUTER (DFCC) Mk1A". Bharat Electronics Limited. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
12. "Tejas Mk1A takes flight with Upgraded indigenous Digital Fly-by-Wire System!". Defence News India. 21 February 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
13. "Tejas combat jet flies successfully with home grown digital flight control computer". The Times of India. 21 February 2024. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 17 November 2025.
14. Kumar, A. (8 July 2025). "DRDO's New 64-bit Mission Computer to Transform IAF's Su-30MKI into a Near 5th-Gen Fighter Under 'Super-30' Upgrade". The Defense News. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
15. Patel, Raghav (7 July 2025). "IAF's Su-30MKI Fleet to Get DRDO's New 64-bit Mission Computer under "Super-30" Program, Elevating Capabilities to Near 5th-Gen". Defence News India. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
16. Thakur, Aksheev (15 February 2023). "AMCA project reaches Critical Design Review, DRDO seeks sanctioning of the project". The Indian Express. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
17. Patel, Raghav (6 November 2024). "AMCA to Fly with a Super Brain as ADE Developing Flight Control Computer with 25x Computing Power than Tejas Jets". Defence News India. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
18. "DRDO, Industry Build Quadruplex Digital Fly-By-Wire (FBW) Computer for AMCA 5th-Gen Jet". indiandefensenews.in. 30 September 2025. Retrieved 17 November 2025.