SOURCE: AFI
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is making significant strides in India’s quest for technological self-reliance with the development of its stealth wing technology demonstrator, SWiFT.
This unassuming prototype, resembling the formidable US B-2 Bomber, is the precursor to the much-anticipated Ghatak unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV). A recent breakthrough came with the successful flight trial of SWiFT in a tailless configuration, placing India in a select group of nations mastering this complex technology. The Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), the DRDO lab behind SWiFT, has demonstrated remarkable ingenuity by creating a single-lift surface aircraft without conventional wings, tail, or fuselage.
Despite a modest budget of Rs 70 crore, the SWiFT project has yielded impressive results. Its primary objectives were to validate stealth technology and autonomous high-speed landing capabilities. The aircraft’s airframe, undercarriage, flight controls, and avionics have been indigenously developed, with only the engine sourced from Russia. Notably, the avionics and electronics are derived from the Tapas-BH-201 UAV, a program nearing completion that promises to reduce India’s dependence on foreign drones.
With two more SWiFT prototypes in the pipeline, DRDO is steadily progressing towards the realization of Ghatak, a 13-tonne UCAV with the potential to revolutionize India’s aerial warfare capabilities. The successful flight of SWiFT is a testament to India’s growing prowess in aerospace engineering and its commitment to building a self-reliant defence ecosystem.