Recent Image Shows 40-Year-Old Kiran Trainer Jet's Transformation to CATS OMCA Configuration as Decoy and Secondary Strike Asset

A recent image circulating on social media has ignited interest in Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's (HAL) innovative Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) Optionally Manned Combat Aircraft (OMCA) program.

The image reveals a HAL HJT-16 Kiran Mk.2 trainer jet, now almost 40 years old, repurposed as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sporting a distinctive two-tone blue paint scheme.

Originally manufactured in 1985, this Kiran trainer aircraft has been given a new lease on life through the CATS OMCA initiative. Instead of being retired, the aircraft has been transformed into a versatile unmanned platform capable of undertaking a variety of roles.

HAL is slated to showcase this Kiran UAV as a static display at Aero India 2025, giving attendees a firsthand look at this ingenious adaptation of existing technology.

The Kiran UAV is designed to function both autonomously and under ground control. This flexibility allows it to perform reconnaissance missions and act as a decoy to lure out enemy air defences, paving the way for other assets to engage. Furthermore, it can be deployed in secondary strike roles within contested airspace.

Repurposing trainer aircraft like the Kiran, which will soon be phased out of pilot training, presents a cost-effective solution for enhancing defence capabilities. This approach maximizes resource utilization and demonstrates innovative thinking in defence asset management.

By showcasing the Kiran UAV at Aero India 2025, HAL aims to not only highlight indigenous innovation but also to gauge international interest for similar conversion programs. This could potentially lead to collaborations and export opportunities, further solidifying India's position in the global defence market.

 

[Rinku Pandey]

Congrats. Great work done by HAL. Atmanirbharta bearing fruits. Make in India, Make for the world!

 

[vinod nair]

Great all aircraft should be optionally manned in modern warfare. We can't loose our Finest men to BVR and WVR missiles. Cost will be too prohibitive they can be better utilized to train AI rarely used in actual combat.

 

[GMR]

Has IAF nay priority for this platform? Can HAL spare resources for its timely development with TEJAS, AMCA, TEDBF, CATS already on its plate?

 

[Sandeep]

Has IAF nay priority for this platform? Can HAL spare resources for its timely development with TEJAS, AMCA, TEDBF, CATS already on its plate?

Have you ever worked in any real time project? or do you think its as simple as like a daily labourer if you are not in this project just move on to another?do you think HAL not doing anything on tejas, do you want them to show you the empty airframe they have assembled without engine? do you want daily timely update on what compoenent is being designed, approved, finalized on AMCA? what do you think AMCA contains how many compoennt? 10-20? troll HAL where they are incompetent, in a development like this i dont think you need to be negative, abalnce out the things in life. Give the credit where its due. Each small progress can be useful at what moment you cant imagine.

 

[Anuj]

If this is possible then why not buy all junk aircraft from market and convert them into unmanned UAVs. But ultimately maths & value should work out otherwise 10-40 Mn asset vs 10K drone will become equal.

 

[Vikas Yadav]

Wow, good move! All Mig series, old Jaguar, and old trainer aircraft should be converted into UAV and CATS roles. It will save billions of dollars buying lots of UAVs from western countries.

 

[Bhishma]

Good approach. Use this is a forward airborne radar. AWACS is going to be obsolete soon. We need an alternate approach. An airborne constellation of UAVs monitoring the skies, with redundancy is the way to go. Automating the old planes is the cheapest and quickest way to accomplish this.

 

[Sandeep]

If we have to spend a lot of money in converting the plane into a OMCA then it wouldn’t be worth it but if it’s easy, quick and cost effective then maybe but without arming it then it wouldn’t ideal.

One also has to realise that a cheap drone can also be used as a decoy or for surveillance but it can’t launch any air to air missiles which the Kiran MK2 might be able to if weaponised.

 

[Ayush raj]

If this is possible then why not buy all junk aircraft from market and convert them into unmanned UAVs. But ultimately maths & value should work out otherwise 10-40 Mn asset vs 10K drone will become equal.

After retirement and old age they are just junk no one will even pay 10k for that so better use it till its last breath than sitting in scrap yards