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SOURCE: AFI

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India’s state-owned aerospace and defense giant, has begun fabricating the CATS Warrior, an advanced Loyal Wingman Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV). With an ambitious target price of under $5 million, the CATS Warrior aims to offer the Indian Air Force (IAF) a cost-effective and versatile solution that can be produced in large quantities to enhance India’s air combat capabilities.

The CATS Warrior is designed to operate autonomously at altitudes of 36,000 to 40,000 feet, with a 300 km operational radius and an endurance of up to two hours. Its low observability and stealth characteristics make it an ideal platform for high-risk missions, allowing it to operate undetected in hostile environments.

Powered by two upgraded PTAE-W engines, originally developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Lakshya pilotless target aircraft, the CATS Warrior leverages proven technology to ensure reliability and efficiency.

The CATS Warrior is a highly adaptable platform, capable of being configured for a variety of roles:

  1. Air-to-Air Combat: Equipped with a tiny Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, the UCAV can target aerial threats such as drones, UAVs, and attack helicopters, ensuring dominance in contested airspaces.
  2. Strike Missions: The Warrior can carry two Smart Anti-Airfield Weapons (SAAW), indigenously developed by DRDO, making it a potent platform for precision strikes on enemy infrastructure and defenses.

HAL envisions the CATS Warrior as a force multiplier for the IAF, which is expected to procure the UCAV in the hundreds once it reaches production readiness. Its low cost, modular design, and multi-role capabilities make it an attractive option for the IAF, which is constantly seeking to expand its combat fleet in a cost-effective manner.






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