SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
A new design of the CATS Hunter Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM), part of India’s Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) program, has surfaced, revealing a significant departure from the prototype showcased by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at Aero India 2021. The updated CATS Hunter, now powered by the indigenous PTAE-7 engine, boasts a range exceeding 350 km and a sleek, stealth-oriented configuration, as seen in images circulating .
The CATS Hunter ALCM, initially unveiled as part of the broader CATS ecosystem to complement manned fighters with unmanned systems, has evolved dramatically. The earlier design at Aero India 2021 featured a more conventional missile layout with prominent wings and a cylindrical body, resembling traditional cruise missiles like the Storm Shadow. The newly revealed design, however, adopts a streamlined, low-observable profile with a flattened, angular body, likely aimed at reducing its radar cross-section (RCS). The missile appears to have blended winglets and a more integrated exhaust, suggesting a focus on stealth and aerodynamic efficiency—key for penetrating contested airspace along India’s borders with Pakistan and China.
Powering this redesigned ALCM is the PTAE-7, a small turbojet engine developed by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) under DRDO. The PTAE-7, designed for the Nirbhay cruise missile and its derivatives, delivers approximately 4.5 kN of thrust and has been tested for subsonic cruise applications. Its integration into the CATS Hunter ensures indigenous propulsion, aligning with India’s “Make in India” initiative, and offers a reliable powerplant for the missile’s 350+ km range. The missile’s speed remains subsonic, likely around Mach 0.7-0.8 (850-980 km/h), consistent with other cruise missiles in its class, prioritizing endurance and fuel efficiency over speed for deep-strike missions.
The CATS Hunter’s 350+ km range positions it as a formidable asset for the IAF, capable of engaging high-value targets like enemy command centers, air defense systems, and logistics hubs from a safe standoff distance. Designed to be launched from platforms like the Su-30MKI, Tejas Mk1A, and potentially the Rafale, the missile is part of HAL’s vision for a networked combat system where unmanned assets, controlled via the CATS Mothership (a modified Tejas trainer), execute strikes while manned fighters manage the battlespace. The ALCM’s payload capacity remains undisclosed, but estimates based on similar systems suggest it could carry a 250-300 kg warhead, sufficient for precision strikes with either conventional or bunker-busting munitions.
The CATS Hunter’s development also occurs against the backdrop of India’s broader missile ambitions, including the BrahMos-NG and Nirbhay programs. While the BrahMos-NG offers supersonic speed, the CATS Hunter’s subsonic, stealth-focused design fills a different niche, prioritizing survivability over speed.
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