Meet Ghatak: DRDO' Upcoming Stealthy Flying Wing UCAV...

The DRDO Ghatak is an autonomous, stealthy Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) being developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Air Force. Designed for deep-penetration strikes and suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) in contested airspace, it features a flying-wing design to achieve a low radar cross-section.

Key Features and Specifications

• Design: The Ghatak has a tailless, arrowhead, or delta-wing shape optimized for stealth and aerodynamic efficiency.
• Engine: It will be powered by a non-afterburning (dry) variant of the domestically developed Kaveri engine, with an expected thrust of around 49 kilonewtons, to minimize its thermal signature.
• Performance:Combat Radius: Expected to be over 1,000 kilometers
• Endurance: Can remain airborne for 5 to 8 hours
• Altitude: Capable of operating at an altitude of 30,000 feet.
• Payload: It will have an internal weapons bay capable of carrying up to 1.5 tons of precision-guided bombs and missiles, potentially including the BrahMos-NG.
• Materials: Constructed using advanced carbon fiber and Kevlar composite materials.
• Autonomy: It will be equipped with advanced artificial intelligence for autonomous navigation, target identification, and Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) operations alongside manned fighter jets like the AMCA or Su-30MKI.

Development Status

• Technology Demonstrator: A scaled-down technology demonstrator, the SWiFT (Stealth Wing Flying Testbed), successfully conducted its maiden flight and landing in fully autonomous mode in July 2022, validating critical technologies like the flight control system and indigenous GAGAN satellite navigation.
• Full-Scale Prototype: Fabrication of the full-scale prototype's airframe is currently underway, with private sector involvement from companies like Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
• Timeline: Flight trials for the full-scale prototype are scheduled for late 2026. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has expressed its intent to acquire at least 150 Ghatak UCAVs as a key part of its future combat strategy.

As per the latest media reports, the KDE is currently undergoing flight tests in Russia on an IL-76 platform post which it will be further tested in India before powering the full-scale Ghatak prototype sometimes in late 2026. However, the transfer of the Ghatak program's development from ADA to the ADE earlier has also caused delays to the program...