SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)’s 2-ton CATS Warrior loyal wingman, currently under development, is poised to revolutionize the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) operational strategy by integrating advanced weaponry and cutting-edge avionics.
Designed to operate alongside manned fighter jets like the HAL Tejas, the CATS Warrior is evolving into a versatile platform capable of carrying not only the Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) but also the indigenous Astra Mk1 Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM). With an enhanced payload capacity and sophisticated guidance options, this unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) promises to extend the IAF’s reach and lethality while keeping pilots out of harm’s way.
The CATS Warrior’s armament potential is a key highlight of its development. Initially showcased at Aero India 2021 as a stealthy, low-observable UCAV, the Warrior has undergone significant design refinements to bolster its combat versatility. Its external hardpoints, now capable of supporting 170 kg of weapons under each wing, have opened the door to integrating the Astra Mk1 BVRAAM—a radar-guided missile weighing approximately 154 kg.
In addition to its external hardpoints, the CATS Warrior features an Internal Weapons Bay (IWB) that enhances its stealth profile by concealing munitions within its airframe. The total weapons payload capacity stands at an impressive 650 kg, distributed as follows: two 155 kg payloads in the IWB and two 340 kg payloads across its wings (170 kg per hardpoint). This configuration allows the Warrior to carry a mix of weapons tailored to diverse mission profiles, from close-range dogfights to long-range engagements. The IWB is slated to house precision-guided munitions like the DRDO-developed Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW), while the external hardpoints expand its air-to-air combat role with missiles like the Astra Mk1 and ASRAAM.
The inclusion of the Astra Mk1 BVRAAM, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), elevates the CATS Warrior into the realm of beyond-visual-range (BVR) combat. With a range of 80-110 km (depending on altitude) and active radar homing, the Astra Mk1 is designed to engage enemy aircraft at standoff distances, a capability previously reserved for manned fighters like the Su-30 MKI and Tejas. Weighing 154 kg, it fits comfortably within the Warrior’s 170 kg per-wing hardpoint capacity, enabling the UCAV to carry two such missiles externally—one under each wing.
This integration poses an intriguing technical question: how will a radar-guided missile like the Astra Mk1 be employed by an unmanned platform? Two possibilities emerge. First, the CATS Warrior could be equipped with a small Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Fire Control Radar (FCR), allowing it to independently detect, track, and engage targets. Such a radar, likely a scaled-down version of the Uttam AESA developed for the Tejas, would enhance the Warrior’s autonomy, turning it into a standalone combat asset capable of executing BVR strikes without constant reliance on its mothership.
Alternatively, the Warrior could leverage datalink guidance from the Tejas mothership, which is equipped with its own AESA radar. In this scenario, the Tejas, operating safely behind the frontline, would use its radar to acquire and track targets, relaying real-time data to the Warrior via a secure datalink. The Warrior would then launch the Astra Mk1, with the missile’s active radar seeker taking over in the terminal phase to home in on the designated target. This manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) approach aligns with the CATS program’s core philosophy, amplifying the Tejas’ sensor reach while keeping pilots out of contested airspace.
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