BREAKING: ADE starts full-scale prototype fabrication of Ghatak UCAV
The Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), a key division of DRDO, has commenced the full-scale fabrication of the highly anticipated Ghatak Stealth UCAV, marking significant progress in its development.
With neighboring countries rapidly acquiring advanced Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs), including Pakistan's procurement of Turkish and Chinese-made systems like the TB2 Bayraktar, Akinci, CH-10, and Wing Loong-II, India is taking steps to close the gap in its unmanned systems capabilities. To strengthen its defense capabilities, India recently signed a deal with General Atomics to acquire 31 MQ-9B Reaper armed drones from the U.S., and it has also secured Israeli Heron-TP Mark2 UAVs, enhancing its surveillance and reconnaissance operations.
Good News
— Varun Karthikeyan (@Varun55484761) October 24, 2024
Full Scale Prototype Fabrication of Ghatak UCAV is progressing.
Expected that Scaled down varaint Swift will be inducted in Numbers. pic.twitter.com/rR2sdxQhzJ
In addition to the Ghatak, ADE is also working on an armed variant of the Rustom drone. The Rustom-1 or Archer-1, which completed taxi trials as early as 2015, featured HELINA anti-tank missiles mounted under its wings. Meanwhile, the larger Rustom-M MALE UAV or BH-201 TAPAS, designed for ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) missions, offers the potential for offensive payloads but has been rejected by the Indian armed forces for not meeting specific operational requirements. There are also plans to develop Archer-NG MALE UAV and a HALE (High Altitude Long Endurance) class UAV in line with American MQ-9B Predator, under pipeline.
#DRDO (ADE) is currently in the process of fabricating a full scale prototype of the #Ghatak UCAV. pic.twitter.com/Twi2r39RXo
— News IADN (@NewsIADN) October 24, 2024
The Indian Air Force (IAF) had originally planned to operationalize three squadrons of UCAVs by 2017 as part of its Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP), but delays have pushed this timeline significantly. While the acquisition of foreign drones will partially address immediate needs, the Ghatak UCAV, being developed indigenously, represents a much more comprehensive solution. The shift to full-scale prototype production marks a crucial milestone in the program's advancement.
The Ghatak UCAV, an autonomous jet-powered stealth combat drone, is being developed for the IAF by ADE under DRDO. It will incorporate an internal weapons bay capable of carrying missiles, bombs, and precision-guided munitions, and its design will follow a flying-wing concept. The UCAV will be powered by the dry variant of the indigenous GTX-35VS Kaveri turbofan engine, providing it with advanced stealth capabilities.
In July 2022, a scaled-down version of the Ghatak successfully completed its first flight test, with the full-scale prototype expected to take flight in 2025.
The need for unmanned systems is more critical than ever, as they allow for more daring missions without risking human lives. The Ghatak UCAV will need to demonstrate key capabilities such as autonomous flying in a networked environment, integration into manned airspace, miniaturized subsystems, and effective human-system engineering for responsive command and control operations.
Future aerial warfare is expected to involve both stealth platforms and manned-unmanned teaming, with UAVs and UCAVs working in tandem with manned fighter jets and other platforms like AEW&CS (Airborne Early Warning and Control System). While fighter jets will continue to play a vital role, UAVs and UCAVs will increasingly undertake high-risk missions deep into enemy territory.
The Ghatak Stealth UCAV's full-scale prototype fabrication represents a significant step forward for India's aerospace sector. Once operational, the Ghatak will expand the IAF’s strategic capabilities, enabling more powerful and sophisticated military operations that could effectively counter future threats.
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