Article

The Indian Defence Acquisition Council has recommended acquiring 60 Ghatak stealth drones to modernize the Indian Air Force. The Ghatak UCAV is designed for deep strike missions and features a low radar profile, enabling it to carry precision-guided munitions.

It can operate autonomously or alongside manned aircraft like the Tejas and AMCA. Development stems from the AURA program, with contributions from the Aeronautical Development Establishment and the Indian Air Force.

The Ghatak is expected to weigh under 15 tons, fly at altitudes up to 30,000 feet, and be powered by a local Kaveri turbojet variant. The successful flight tests of the technology demonstrator SWiFT pave the way for its operational use.