DRDO to Initiate R&D on Shape-Shifting Wings and Self-Healing Nano-Stealth for India's 6th-Gen Fighter Jets

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is preparing to launch a groundbreaking research initiative aimed at mastering sixth-generation fighter jet technologies.

Moving beyond the current standards of fifth-generation aerial warfare, sources indicate that the organisation plans to develop futuristic capabilities such as shape-shifting wings, self-repairing stealth coatings, and photonic flight control systems.

These innovations are intended to secure India's air dominance in the decades following the rollout of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

Beyond the AMCA: A Vision for 2040​

Senior officials have revealed that while the immediate focus remains on the stealthy AMCA—prototypes of which are targeted for 2028—strategic planning has already begun for the post-2040 era.

The objective is to "future-proof" the Indian Air Force against evolving threats in highly contested zones, specifically the Himalayan borders and the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Although these technologies are currently in a nascent stage and unlikely to be operationally ready within the next decade, the DRDO emphasises that sustained long-term investment is critical.

This move aligns India with global aviation leaders like the UK and China, who are similarly experimenting with adaptive structures and blended-wing concepts for their respective future combat air systems.

Shape-Shifting "Morphing" Wings​

Central to this new research is wing morphing, a bio-inspired technology that allows an aircraft to physically alter its wing shape during flight.

Much like a bird adjusts its feathers to glide or dive, this system eliminates traditional, rigid control surfaces such as flaps and ailerons. Instead, the wing itself twists and changes curvature seamlessly.

According to defence experts, this capability could offer three major tactical advantages:

• Fuel Efficiency: Optimising drag reduction could lower fuel consumption by up to 20%.
• Stealth: The absence of sharp joints and gaps reduces the aircraft’s radar signature.
• Agility: Continuous shape adjustment allows for superior manoeuvrability during high-G combat turns or carrier-based take-offs.

This initiative builds upon earlier successes, including a 2022 project where DRDO scientists prototyped a rectangular wing capable of changing its camber (curvature). This concept was successfully validated through wind-tunnel testing at the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL).

Self-Healing Nano-Stealth Coatings​

To counter the rise of quantum radars and advanced sensor networks, DRDO is exploring nano-coating stealth applications. Unlike traditional Radar Absorbent Materials (RAM), which are heavy and prone to degradation, these next-generation coatings utilise atom-thin metamaterials.

These "smart" layers are designed to be tunable via electric fields, allowing them to manipulate incoming electromagnetic waves, scatter infrared heat signatures, and even dampen engine noise.

Crucially, these nanomaterials possess self-healing properties, enabling the aircraft's skin to automatically repair minor abrasions or environmental damage, ensuring consistent stealth performance over long missions.

This technology is seen as a vital countermeasure to the sophisticated detection grids currently being developed by regional adversaries.

Fly-by-Light: The Nervous System of the Future​

Rounding out the technological triad is the shift from Fly-by-Wire (FBW) to Fly-by-Light (FBL) systems.

Current fighter jets use copper wiring to transmit electrical signals from the pilot to the flight computer. The proposed FBL system substitutes these with fibre-optic cables that transmit data using pulses of light.

The benefits of this transition are substantial:

• Speed & Bandwidth: Light-based data transmission is significantly faster, offering bandwidths up to 100 times higher than electrical systems. This is essential for supporting the massive data fusion required by AI-driven pilots.
• Weight Reduction: Replacing heavy copper wiring could shave approximately 500 kg off the aircraft's weight, allowing for more fuel or weaponry.
• Immunity to Interference: Fibre optics are immune to Electromagnetic Interference (EMI), making the aircraft highly resilient against enemy jamming and directed-energy weapons.

This ambitious R&D roadmap signals India's intent to transition from a buyer of technology to a pioneer in aerospace innovation.

By mastering these adaptive and self-sustaining technologies, New Delhi aims to ensure that its air power remains unassailable well into the mid-21st century.

 

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