DRDO Ghatak

Background and planning

The Autonomous Unmanned Research Aircraft project was commissioned in 2009 to carryout a feasibility study for the development of an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) for the Indian Armed Forces. It was taken up by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) of the state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).^[1][2] In July 2010, the Indian Air Force submitted a request for information to international suppliers for UCAVs with a low-radar cross-section, high service ceiling, an expected range of 500 nmi (930 km; 580 mi) and the capability to carry precision-guided weapons.^[3] In 2016, a project to develop a scaled down technology demonstrator named Stealth Wing Flying Testbed (SWiFT), was sanctioned at a cost of ₹700 million (equivalent to ₹1.0 billion or US$12 million in 2023).^[4] The ADE was tasked with the development of this scaled down prototype,^[5] and according to the DRDO, the SWiFT is intended to develop and demonstrate technologies for controlling the flying-wing configuration and flight characteristics at high-subsonic speeds.^[6]

SWiFT protypes

Two prototypes were developed, with the first prototype featuring a flying-wing design with no tail fin, while the second featured a vertical stabilizer.^[7] The ground trials of the SWiFT Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) began in June 2021.^[6] The airframe, undercarriage, flight control system, and avionics for the UAV were developed indigenously.^[8] The second prototype, which was designated as the Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator, was tested successfully on 1 July 2022.^[7][9] According to DRDO, the aircraft performed as intended while operating in a fully autonomous mode.^[10][11] The SWiFT UAV has an airframe made of carbon composites, and is 4 m (13 ft)-long and has a wingspan of 5 m (16 ft).^[12][13] It weighed about 1 t (1.1 tons), and was powered by a Russian TRDD-50MT turbofan engine, originally designed for cruise missiles.^[8] The SWiFT was also intended to be a precursor to the unmanned wingman bomber program.^[12]

Developmental testing

The DRDO subsequently conducted six developmental test flights of the UAV in 2023.^[13][14][15] The seventh test flight was conducted at the Chitradurga Aeronautical Test Range in December 2023, with the final configuration. It involved an upgraded prototype with no tail fin, improved avionics and control systems, and featured an advanced ground control station. With the use of onboard sensor data and GPS-aided GEO augmented navigation, the testing demonstrated autonomous landing without the requirement of ground based radars or manual control.^[13][15] According to the DRDO, the various tests were used to test high-speed automatic takeoff and landing, stealth characteristics, control of the flying wing configuration, autonomous flying, and integration of monitoring and evaluation systems.^[14]

Project Ghatak

The UCAV project had been designated as project Ghatak.^[7] According to a press release in 2017, an initial funding of ₹23,100 crore (US$3.44 billion) was allocated in 2016 for the lead-in design of Project Ghatak and development of critical technologies for the Ghatak and Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft.^[16] While it primarily intended for the Indian Air Force, the Indian Navy also expressed interested in the project, and is keen on acquiring deck based UCAVs for aircraft carriers and Landing Platform Docks.^[5] The Technology Perspective and Capability Roadmap 2025 of the defence ministry cited the possible acquisition of up to 100 units of stealth UCAVs for the Indian Air Force and up to 50 units for the Indian Army.^[17] The acquisition of Ghatak UCAVs is also outlined in the Vision 2047 of the Indian Air Force.^[18][19]

On 3 March 2026, the Defence Procurement Board cleared the development phase of the Ghatak Project, and recommended the acquisition of 60 Ghatak drones, the proposal of which has to be approved by the Defence Acquisition Council led by the defence minister.^[18] On 27 March 2026, the Defence Acquisition Council, chaired by the Defence Minister, cleared the procurement of 60 Remotely Piloted Strike Aircraft (RPSA).^[20][21] The RPSA programme, which was earlier designated as project Ghatak, would be implemented under the Development cum Production Partner programme by the DRDO, at an estimated cost of ₹39,000 crore (US$4.6 billion). The winning bidder is expected to develop six prototypes at a cost of ₹10,000 crore (US$1.2 billion), and the UCAVs, which would be based on the Ghatak protoypes, are expected to be powered by jet engines and equipped with Astra long-range air-to-air missiles and air-to-ground systems being developed by the DRDO.^[22][23]