SOURCE: AFI
The Ghatak Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV), a cornerstone of India’s ambitions to develop indigenous stealth drone technology, remains unsanctioned by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) as of June 2025. Despite significant progress in design and testing, the absence of formal approval has pushed the project’s timeline beyond 2030, raising concerns about its impact on the Indian Air Force (IAF) and India’s broader defence strategy. This article examines the current status of the Ghatak program, the reasons behind the delay, and the strategic implications for the IAF in a rapidly evolving regional security landscape.
The Ghatak, developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is envisioned as a 13-ton stealth UCAV with a flying-wing design. Equipped with a 1.5-ton internal weapons bay, advanced AI-driven autonomous systems, and a dry variant of the Kaveri engine, the Ghatak aims to conduct deep-penetration strikes, suppress enemy air defenses (SEAD), and gather intelligence in contested environments. Its Digital Beamforming (DBF) radar enhances precision targeting and electronic warfare capabilities, positioning it as a critical asset for operations along India’s borders with China and Pakistan.
The program, initiated as a successor to the 2009 Autonomous Unmanned Research Aircraft (AURA) project, has seen milestones like the 2022 flight of the Stealth Wing Flying Testbed (SWiFT) demonstrator. However, the full-scale prototype’s first flight is now projected for 2025–26, with induction into the IAF likely in the late 2030s, contingent on trials and funding. The IAF plans to acquire 150 Ghatak UCAVs, equivalent to 8–9 squadrons, to bolster its autonomous warfare capabilities.
Despite its strategic importance, the Ghatak program awaits CCS approval, with an estimated development cost of ?15,000 crore. In 2018, the Lok Sabha was informed that no project sanction existed for Ghatak, and while a 2017 review by an independent committee recommended “in-principle” approval, the proposal remains stalled at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Posts on X reflect frustration, with users criticizing bureaucratic delays and “tech demo tactics” like the SWiFT project, which some argue diverts resources from full-scale development.
The delayed sanction of Ghatak has far-reaching consequences for the IAF, which is grappling with a shrinking combat fleet and growing regional threats. As of January 2025, the IAF operates 31 squadrons against a sanctioned strength of 42, a gap exacerbated by the retirement of ageing aircraft like MiG-21s and Jaguars. The absence of Ghatak until the 2030s compounds these challenges in several ways:
- Widening Capability Gap:
- China’s stealth drones, like the GJ-11 Sharp Sword, and Pakistan’s potential access to advanced UAVs highlight India’s lag in unmanned warfare.
- Without Ghatak, the IAF lacks a low-cost, stealthy platform for high-risk missions, relying on manned fighters like Su-30 MKI and Rafale, which are costlier to operate and risk pilot lives.
- The IAF’s vision of a network-centric force with 450 jets per border and large UCAV fleets by 2035 is jeopardized, as Ghatak’s delay disrupts plans for autonomous operations.
- Strategic Vulnerabilities:
- Ghatak’s ability to penetrate enemy air defenses and strike high-value targets is critical along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and Line of Control (LoC). Its absence leaves the IAF less equipped for covert operations or SEAD missions against advanced systems like China’s S-400.
- Recent India-Pakistan skirmishes, like Operation Sindoor in May 2025, underscore the need for precision strike capabilities without escalating conflicts, a role Ghatak could fulfill.
- Overreliance on Imports:
- Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) restrictions limit UCAV imports, forcing India to develop indigenous solutions. Delays in Ghatak may push the IAF to consider costlier foreign collaborations, undermining self-reliance goals.
- Offers like the U.S. F-35 or Russia’s Su-57E, while tempting, involve geopolitical trade-offs and high costs, diverting funds from indigenous programs.
- Force Structure Challenges
- The IAF’s squadron shortage, projected to persist until 2035, requires affordable platforms like Ghatak, which has lower maintenance costs than manned jets.
- Delays in Ghatak, alongside stalled projects like AMCA and Tejas Mk1A, strain the IAF’s ability to balance quantity and quality in its fleet.
- Missed Technological Leap:
- Ghatak’s AI, stealth, and DBF technologies could position India as a leader in unmanned warfare, but delays risk obsolescence as adversaries advance.
- The IAF’s long-term plan for a 50-ton manned stealth bomber based on Ghatak’s design is also deferred, limiting strategic options.
The unsanctioned status of the Ghatak UCAV is a critical bottleneck for the IAF, which faces a shrinking fleet, rising regional threats, and a technological gap in unmanned warfare. With induction unlikely before the late 2030s, the IAF risks strategic vulnerabilities, overreliance on manned platforms, and missed opportunities to assert technological dominance. Urgent action to secure funding, resolve technical challenges, and prioritize Ghatak’s development is essential to align the IAF with its vision of a network-centric, multi-role force capable of securing India’s airspace in an increasingly contested region. The Ghatak’s delay is not just a programmatic setback—it’s a strategic challenge that demands immediate attention.
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