IAF Plans to Acquire At Least 150 Ghatak UCAV with Advanced AI and Indigenous Kaveri Engine to Boost Autonomous Warfare Capabilities

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to significantly bolster its autonomous warfare capabilities with the planned acquisition of at least 150 Ghatak Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs), equivalent to 8-9 squadrons. This information comes from a recent interaction with an IAF official, highlighting the service's commitment to integrating cutting-edge drone technology into its operational framework.

The Ghatak UCAV, currently under development by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), represents a crucial step in India's pursuit of indigenous unmanned combat capabilities.

As reported by earlier, the fabrication of this 13-ton stealth UCAV has commenced. Designed for covert operations behind enemy lines, the Ghatak boasts an internal weapons bay capable of carrying a variety of payloads, including precision-guided munitions. This allows for surgical strikes while maintaining a low radar signature, essential for penetrating heavily defended airspace.

Powering this advanced UCAV is the Dry Kaveri engine, an indigenously developed jet engine specifically optimized for unmanned applications. This marks a significant achievement in India's quest for self-reliance in defence technology.

The Ghatak UCAV program is expected to achieve key milestones in the coming years, with the prototype rollout anticipated by early 2028 and induction into the IAF by the late 2030s. These timelines, however, are contingent on successful trials and user acceptance.

The Ghatak UCAV is poised to revolutionize the IAF's operational capabilities by enabling autonomous combat operations in hostile environments. Its advanced AI-driven systems will provide autonomous navigation, target identification, and strike capabilities, making it ideal for missions such as deep strikes, suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD), and intelligence gathering behind enemy lines.

 

[R. Singh]

DRDO should develop GHATAK -1 with 1000 km range, GHATAK-II with 2500 Km range and GHATAK-III a manned version having 8000 km range ( 20 ton ) weapon load capable !

 

[Vineet Sharma]

No life inside hence 8-9 sq is a sensible step until unless HAL bina pilot ke ise uda paye and phir ise mass production main la ske

 

[Sridhar]

Awesome !!! Hope and pray for the UCAV to enter production at the earliest. For both IAF and IA it's a must have aerial platform especially going by today's scenario.

 

[Kailash]

Great news !!! Unobstructed production run of dry kaveri.. this news made my day

of course there will be quality and timelines problems. But anything is better than a non flying kaveri

 

[Avatar]

DRDO should develop GHATAK -1 with 1000 km range, GHATAK-II with 2500 Km range and GHATAK-III a manned version having 8000 km range ( 20 ton ) weapon load capable !

Bhai sahab, let them first develop the base model before you present your wish list!

 

[Jagroshan singh]

If the value 13-ton is correct, than Ghatak UCAV would be even bigger and heavier than LCA Tejas.

 

[sishir]

Good to try and develop. However what could be the security scenario in 2030 is very difficult to predict. It would be better to have a few similar capacity in hand asap.

 

[Youraj Gavate]

If the value 13-ton is correct, than Ghatak UCAV would be even bigger and heavier than LCA Tejas.

Bomber needs to be heavier

 

[Sandeep]

This is a critical project and a requirement that we urgently need and it will increase our fire power. This will work very well with the AMCA jet by teaming them together in carrying out complex missions but also ideal to carry out surveillance missions over the enemy’s territory without them realising which is a major bonus. This drone will also be much cheaper than a manned fighter jet and have lower maintenance, repairs, spare and equipment costs which is a bonus.

Once we have developed the UCAV Ghatak we should scale the drone up and create a stealth UCAV bomber as by then we will have all of the crucial data, knowledge, science, engineering etc that’s required to develop a larger bomber.

 

[Madhavkr]

If I understand the article correctly, it is scheduled to be in inducted in 2030 provided all the timelines are met in developing technologies and user trials are completed before armed forces can say we have an upper hand. Given the history of development of kaveri engine itself, one really wonder if these mile stones can be really achieved in time. Hopefully everything goes as planned, by the time it's ready for induction our adverceris might be have developed even more advanced technologies to counter this ghatak drone. We should develop advanced and future technologies simultaneously to keep the pace with advancement in technology so that in whatever version we launch is capable of worry the neighbours who are relently trying to developing advanced technologies and inducting year after year...

 

[Garuda]

A stealth UCAV bomber feels like too good to be real , but manned version does create hopes. And if laminate based coating than it's operating cost must be as same as 4th gen manned fighter in my opinion and unlike average drones.

 

[M S Chatterji]

Can you compare the Ghatak UCAV with a fighter jet like LCA - MK2 types? It would appear that the era of a manned fighter jet is over. It will in a decade or two will be replaced by UCAV. That does not mean that fighters will not be built but these will be required in limited numbers.

 

[VedantaKiran]

This will be the best aircraft for the IAF. And moreover since it is stealth, it will achieve the desired results. One of the important parameters should be achievement of Mach2 speeds. It will change the whole balance in India's favour. Further it should have a long range and endurance.

 

[Sandeep]

A stealth UCAV bomber feels like too good to be real , but manned version does create hopes. And if laminate based coating than it's operating cost must be as same as 4th gen manned fighter in my opinion and unlike average drones.

I would think that it will be much easier to develop a stealth UCAV bomber as all we will have to do is scale up what we have developed with the Ghatak drone like the technology, equipment, software, parts and weapons etc.

Developing a manned bomber will require a lot of significant changes and we won’t be able to use the scaled up technology from our drone bombers. It will also take a very long time to develop a manned bomber as it will require a lot of additional safety and protection.