India technologically ready for 6th-Gen Unmanned Fighter Jet based on Ghatak UCAV, awaits Government greenlight

Source : IgMp Bureau

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India has reached a significant milestone in aerospace technology, having developed the core expertise to create a sixth-generation unmanned fighter aircraft. This claim comes from Dr. Kota Harinarayana, the visionary behind the indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft program.

In a major disclosure, Dr. Harinarayana confirmed that India is fully prepared on the technological front and now awaits a formal go-ahead from the government to initiate the ambitious project.

The foundation for this next-gen aerial platform—based on a "flying wing" configuration—has been in progress for several years. Scaled-down prototypes have already demonstrated successful flight performance, marking a key step forward in indigenous unmanned fighter capabilities.

“If the government gives the nod for a full-scale, unmanned sixth-generation fighter, we are ready from a technology standpoint,” Dr. Harinarayana stated, emphasizing that significant groundwork has already been accomplished in this highly classified domain.

Breakthrough in Flying Wing Aerodynamics

One of the program's most notable technological achievements is mastering the aerodynamics of a tailless flying wing aircraft. Unlike conventional jets that rely on vertical and horizontal stabilizers, a flying wing design requires extremely advanced flight control algorithms and software to ensure stability.

“It’s a challenging task—flying a wing without any vertical or horizontal tail—and we’ve successfully done it,” he said, underlining a critical leap in flight control systems achieved by Indian scientists and engineers.

The Ghatak UCAV and SWiFT Prototype

While the program’s name wasn’t explicitly mentioned, the development aligns closely with the Ghatak Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) initiative. Spearheaded by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Ghatak is designed as a stealthy, autonomous drone for offensive missions.

The smaller-scale demonstrator, known as the Stealth Wing Flying Testbed (SWiFT), has already completed successful test flights, validating key aerodynamic and stealth characteristics of the platform.

The Ghatak UCAV will be powered by a dry version of the indigenous Kaveri engine, delivering adequate thrust for subsonic operations and enabling stealth capabilities through a low heat signature.

Defining the Sixth-Generation Combat Jet

However, a sixth-generation unmanned fighter demands much more than just stealth and autonomous flight. Core features of sixth-gen platforms include:

Full-spectrum stealth (including radar, infrared, and acoustic signature suppression)

AI-powered autonomous mission execution

Manned-unmanned teaming capabilities

Option for directed-energy weapon systems

While the Ghatak serves as a foundational program, evolving it into a sixth-gen platform would necessitate the integration of these advanced technologies, which are currently under development globally.

India’s Entry into the Elite Club of Next-Gen Warfare

This revelation firmly places India among a select group of nations at the cutting edge of future air combat technologies. Major international programs pursuing sixth-generation fighters include:

The U.S. Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD)

The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) by the UK, Japan, and Italy

The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) by France, Germany, and Spain

Dr. Harinarayana’s comments make it clear: India is not simply catching up—it is creating its own technological pathways to ensure relevance and strategic autonomy in future aerial warfare.

What Comes After AMCA?

India’s fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is projected to enter production by the mid-2030s. A sixth-generation unmanned fighter, based on Ghatak’s technological legacy, could realistically begin development in the early 2040s—providing India with a continuous evolution in its combat airpower.

This move would not only bolster India’s defence self-reliance under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative but also position it as a serious contender in global aerospace innovation.

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