SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
India’s ambitious Ghatak Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) program is making significant strides, with the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) forging ahead in developing a 13-ton remotely piloted strike platform. According to reports from idrw.org, the Ghatak, designed to be powered by the indigenous Dry Kaveri engine, will not only serve as a deep-penetration strike platform but also feature an air-superiority unmanned fighter configuration.
This variant will equip its internal weapons bay (IWB) with air-to-air missiles, enabling Combat Air Patrol (CAP) missions to secure Indian airspace and counter rival strike packages. Despite pending final funding approval, ADE and DRDO are progressing with a prototype that could serve as an engineering model to test critical systems before entering the developmental flight test phase.
The Ghatak UCAV, initially known as the Autonomous Unmanned Research Aircraft (AURA), is a stealthy, jet-powered unmanned platform designed to enhance the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) autonomous warfare capabilities. With a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 13 tons and a flying-wing configuration, the Ghatak is optimized for low radar cross-section (RCS), making it ideal for operations in contested airspace. Its IWB, capable of carrying a 1.5-ton payload, will house precision-guided munitions (PGMs), bombs, and missiles for deep-strike missions targeting high-priority enemy assets. The platform’s design draws on lessons from the Stealth Wing Flying Testbed (SWiFT), a 1.1-ton technology demonstrator that successfully flew in July 2022 and completed its seventh flight trial in December 2023 at Chitradurga Aeronautical Test Range.
The Ghatak’s propulsion system, a 49 kN Dry Kaveri engine developed by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), is a non-afterburning variant optimized for fuel efficiency and reduced infrared signature, critical for stealth and endurance. Recent reports indicate that the Dry Kaveri engine has cleared high-altitude chamber tests in Russia and is ready for in-flight trials, with Godrej Aerospace tasked with manufacturing six engines by August 2025. This marks a significant step toward self-reliance in India’s aero-engine development, addressing past challenges with the Kaveri program, which faced delays due to insufficient thrust for manned fighters like the Tejas.
In a groundbreaking development, idrw.org has confirmed that the Ghatak program will include an air-superiority unmanned fighter configuration, equipping the platform for CAP missions and defensive operations. This variant will integrate air-to-air missiles, such as the indigenous Astra Mk-1 or Mk-2, into its IWB, enabling the UCAV to engage enemy aircraft and neutralize strike packages approaching Indian airspace. This capability positions Ghatak as a versatile asset, capable of both offensive deep-penetration strikes and defensive air superiority roles.
The air-superiority configuration aligns with the IAF’s vision to deploy 8–9 squadrons of Ghatak UCAVs for strategic operations, as revealed by an IAF official to idrw.org. The platform’s advanced AI-driven systems, including autonomous navigation, target identification, and Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T), will allow it to operate alongside manned fighters like the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) or Su-30 MKI, acting as a force multiplier in high-threat environments. The Ghatak’s ability to conduct Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD) and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions further enhances its strategic value.
Despite its promising capabilities, the Ghatak program awaits final funding approval from the Ministry of Defence. In 2016, an initial ?231 crore (approximately $39 million in 2023) was allocated for the design and development of critical technologies for Ghatak and AMCA. However, full-scale funding, estimated at ?5,000 crore ($600 million), is still pending, delaying the program’s momentum. Nevertheless, ADE and DRDO are proactively advancing the program by developing a prototype that may serve as an engineering model to validate subsystems, including avionics, flight control systems, and stealth-enhancing materials. This prototype, expected to roll out by early 2028, will pave the way for developmental flight tests, with production targeted for the late 2030s, contingent on successful trials and IAF acceptance.
The Ghatak program builds on the success of the SWiFT technology demonstrator, which validated autonomous takeoff, waypoint navigation, and landing using lightweight carbon prepreg composites and indigenous GAGAN receivers for satellite-based navigation. The prototype’s development will leverage synergies with the AMCA program, sharing stealth materials, avionics, and potentially propulsion technologies to reduce costs. However, Ghatak’s unique unmanned requirements, such as AI-driven autonomy and MUM-T capabilities, necessitate dedicated investments.
NOTE: Article cannot be reproduced without written permission of idrw.org in any form even for YouTube Videos to avoid Copy right strikes. Websites doing illegal reproductions will get DMCA and Legal Notices.