SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), a premier laboratory under India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has officially commenced work on the development of the 13-ton Ghatak Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV), a stealth platform designed to bolster the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) autonomous strike capabilities.
While ADE has initiated the process of acquiring critical systems for the first full-scale prototype, the program remains in limbo awaiting funding approval from the Indian government. This milestone follows the successful validation of key technologies through the Stealth Wing Flying Testbed (SWiFT) Technology Demonstrator (TD) program, paving the way for Ghatak’s evolution into a larger, combat-ready system.
The Ghatak UCAV envisioned as a 13-ton flying-wing stealth platform, is a cornerstone of India’s Indigenous unmanned combat aviation strategy. Designed for deep-strike missions in contested airspace, it features an internal weapons bay capable of carrying a 1.5-ton payload, including precision-guided munitions, while maintaining a low radar cross-section (RCS). The platform is slated to be powered by the indigenous 49 kN Dry Kaveri engine, a non-afterburning derivative optimized for fuel efficiency and reduced infrared signature—key attributes for stealth and endurance.
ADE has begun acquiring subsystems such as avionics, flight control systems, and stealth-enhancing materials for the prototype, a process builds on lessons learned from the SWiFT-TD program. However, a senior official told idrw.org that while these initial steps are underway, the program’s full momentum hinges on government funding, which has yet to be sanctioned. “We’ve started the groundwork, but the scale-up to a 13-ton platform requires significant investment,” the official noted, emphasizing that funding details are still being finalized.
When asked about funding requirements, ADE officials told idrw.org that precise figures are still being calculated. The Ghatak program is expected to benefit from synergies with the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project, a fifth-generation stealth fighter also under development by DRDO. Both platforms share technological overlaps, including stealth materials, avionics, and potentially propulsion systems, which could reduce costs through shared R&D. However, Ghatak’s unique unmanned requirements—such as AI-driven autonomy and Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) capabilities—necessitate distinct investments.
“While we’ll leverage AMCA’s advancements, Ghatak’s scale-up and specialized systems will require separate funding,” an ADE source explained. Estimates circulating on defence forums suggest a budget of ?5,000 crores (approximately $600 million) could be proposed, mirroring earlier projections for the Remote Piloted Aerial System (RPAS) program that encompasses UCAVs. The funding proposal, currently under review by a Ministry of Finance committee, is expected to be presented to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) by mid-2025, contingent on ADE’s progress with the prototype.
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