India Greenlights Four Squadrons of Indigenous Ghatak Stealth UCAVs
New Delhi, 27 March 2026 — The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved the procurement of Remotely Piloted Strike Aircraft (RPSA) for the Indian Air Force in a move to enhance India's indigenous defence capabilities and independence in unmanned combat aviation. This approval includes four squadrons with a total of 80 aircraft, directly supporting the DRDO's Ghatak stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) programme.
This decision is part of a larger package of defence proposals worth around ₹2.38 lakh crore. The package includes the S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile system, medium transport aircraft, and Su-30 aero-engine overhauls. According to the Ministry of Defence, the RPSA will enable the Indian Air Force to perform offensive counter-air operations, coordinated air strikes, and stealth intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions in contested environments, thereby reducing risks to manned aircraft.
The Ghatak, also referred to as the Indian Unmanned Strike Air Vehicle, is an autonomous, jet-powered stealth UCAV designed for deep-strike missions and suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD/DEAD). Developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), with design support from the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the programme began with a 2009 feasibility study under the Autonomous Unmanned Research Aircraft initiative. Initial funding of ₹2.31 billion was approved for critical technologies and lead-in design, with further approval in 2016 for a scaled-down technology demonstrator, the Stealth Wing Flying Testbed (SWiFT), costing ₹700 million.
The SWiFT demonstrator, with a flying-wing configuration, successfully completed its maiden flight on 1 July 2022 at the Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga, Karnataka. Follow-up test flights in 2023 confirmed its high-subsonic performance, autonomous takeoff and landing capabilities, stealth features, and advanced avionics integration. With two prototypes built, the platform advanced from a tailed variant to a tailless flying-wing design, verifying its low radar cross-section and internal weapon carriage capabilities.
Key Specifications and Design Features
The Ghatak is a 13–15 tonne class platform with a carbon-composite airframe optimized for stealth. It features a flying-wing layout to reduce radar visibility and will use a variant of the indigenous Kaveri afterburning turbofan engine (early tests with SWiFT used a Russian TRDD-50MT). Expected performance parameters include:
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Operational ceiling | Up to 9,100 metres (30,000 feet). |
| Combat radius | Approximately 500 nautical miles (930 km), as per earlier Indian Air Force requirements. |
| Payload | Internal weapons bay capable of carrying precision-guided munitions, missiles, and bombs. |
| Autonomy features | Onboard mission computers, fire-control radar, identification friend-or-foe systems, and collision-avoidance technology for fully autonomous operations. |
The platform is designed to function as a “loyal wingman” alongside manned fighters like the Tejas Mk II and the future Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), allowing it to penetrate heavily defended airspace without putting pilots at risk. This fits into the Indian Air Force’s Vision 2047 roadmap, which envisions significant acquisition of such UCAVs for both the Air Force and Army.
The DAC approval follows the Defence Procurement Board's recommendation on 3 March 2026 to proceed with acquiring 60 Ghatak units, indicating swift progress from development to series procurement. This move highlights India's commitment to Atmanirbhar Bharat by focusing on domestic platforms over foreign options. Analysts note that the four-squadron force will grant the Indian Air Force a dedicated stealth strike capability to counter advanced threats, including those from regional adversaries.
Production is anticipated to involve public-private partnerships, with a high degree of indigenous content in airframe, avionics, and propulsion systems. While specific induction timelines remain confidential, the programme's acceleration—supported by successful demonstrator flights and engine certification milestones—positions the Ghatak as a key element of India’s future autonomous deep-strike capability.
This significant decision not only enhances operational readiness but also establishes India as a prominent player in advanced unmanned combat systems globally. Further details on contract awards and industrial participation are expected in the coming months.
