DRDO Ghatak: Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}

| image =  

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| first flight = 2025{{ndash}}2026 (expected)<ref name="shivaroor" />

| status = Technology demonstrator taxi trials completed  

| program cost = {{INRConvert|26.5|b|lk=r|year=2015}}<ref name="toi" />

'''''Ghatak''''' is an autonomous [[Stealth aircraft|stealthy]] [[unmanned combat air vehicle]] (UCAV), being developed by [[Aeronautical Development Establishment]] (ADE) of [[Defence Research and Development Organisation]] (DRDO) for the [[Indian Air Force]].<ref>{{cite news|title=India to develop unmanned combat aerial vehicle|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/india-to-develop-unmanned-combat-aerial-vehicle/story-gnfRezY6tbKLDa3mtkUdmI.html|work=Hindustan Times|agency=IANS|date=25 November 2009|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=New Imagery Details Indian Aura UCAV|url=http://aviationweek.com/awin/new-imagery-details-indian-aura-ucav|work=Aviation Week & Space Technology|date=16 July 2012}}</ref> The design work on the [[Unmanned combat aerial vehicle|UCAV]] is to be carried out by [[Aeronautical Development Agency]] (ADA). ''Autonomous Unmanned Research Aircraft (AURA)'' was a tentative name for the UCAV.<ref name="toi" /><ref name="et" /> Details of the project are classified.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/100966/India/india-developing-unmanned-combat-aerial-vehicle.html|title=India developing unmanned combat aerial vehicle|work=India Today|date=2010-06-10|access-date=2012-01-28}}</ref>

The UCAV will be capable of releasing [[missiles]], bombs and [[precision-guided munition]]s. The programme is in its project definition stage. The design is in line with what former DRDO chief controller for Aeronautics said in 2007, that India's combat drone would be a stealthy [[flying-wing]] concept aircraft with internal weapons bay and a turbofan engine.

First flight of a scaled down testbed is scheduled in 2021 and that of a full scale prototype is expected in 2024{{ndash}}25. The first fight is expected to occur by 2025{{ndash}}26.

''Autonomous Unmanned Research Aircraft (AURA)'' was a tentative name for an Indian UCAV project,<ref name=et>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/government-set-to-clear-rs-3000-crore-plan-to-develop-engine-for-indias-first-ucav/articleshow/49775096.cms|title=Government set to clear Rs 3,000 crore plan to develop engine for India's first UCAV|last=Pubby|first=Manu|date=2018-07-15|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2019-10-28}}</ref> but was eventually called the ''Ghatak'' UCAV.<ref name="shivaroor" /><ref name="toi" />

The ADA describes the UCAV as a "self-defending high-speed reconnaissance UAV with weapon firing capability".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/news/india/Make-in-India-sees-first-unmanned-UAV/articleshow/55548908.cms|title=Make in India sees first unmanned UAV|date=22 November 2016|website=[[Ahmedabad Mirror]]|language=en|access-date=2019-10-28}}</ref> The UCAV will cruise at medium altitude and will be capable of carrying two or more guided strike weapons with on-board sensors for targeting and weapon guidance.

The flight control system and data link packages of the UCAV will be created by ADA and [[Defence Electronics Application Laboratory]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ghosh|first1=Anirvan|title=We never had a single failure in 1,500 flights of Tejas: ADE|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/features/sunday-et/people--places/we-never-had-a-single-failure-in-1500-flights-of-tejas-ade/articleshow/7294743.cms|access-date=28 January 2012|work=The Economic Times|date=17 January 2011}}</ref>

 

[[DRDO]]'s Chief Controller, R&D (aeronautics), Dr Prahlada said, "capable of flying at altitudes of {{convert|30,000|ft|m|0|abbr=on|disp=sqbr}} and weighing less than 15 tonnes, the UCAVs will have rail-launching for the missiles, bombs and PGMs (precision-guided munitions) they will carry."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Pandit|first1=Rajat|title=India quietly begins combat drone project|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/India-quietly-begins-combat-drone-project/articleshow/7941545.cms|work=The Economic Times|date=11 April 2011}}</ref> In 2015, Defence Minister [[Manohar Parrikar]] informed Rajya Sabha that UCAV will be powered by a dry [[GTRE GTX-35VS Kaveri|Kaveri engine]] variant,<ref>{{cite news|title=Indigenous Kaveri engine to power Unmanned Combat Aircraft|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/indigenous-kaveri-engine-to-power-unmanned-combat-aircraft-115073001331_1.html|work=Business Standard|agency=PTI|date=30 July 2015}}</ref> which will have a thrust of 52 [[kilonewton]]s.<ref name="toi" /> It is said to employ a [[Thrust vectoring|fluid thrust vectoring]] method.

=== Stealth Wing Flying Testbed (SWiFT) ===

The Autonomous Unmanned Research Aircraft was a feasibility  study started in 2009 with a budget of {{INRConvert|125|m|lk=r|year=2009}} and successfully completed in April 2013.<ref name="toi">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-set-to-develop-own-stealth-combat-drones/articleshow/50165296.cms|title=India set to develop own stealth combat drones|date=14 December 2015|website=[[The Times of India]]|language=en|access-date=2019-10-28}}</ref>

 

Initial funding of {{INRConvert|2.31|b|year=2016}} for the project was sanctioned by the [[Government of India]] in May 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=158007|title=DRDO Projects|date=3 February 2017|website=[[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]]|via=[[Press Information Bureau]]|access-date=2019-10-28}}</ref><ref name="shivaroor" />

 

As of March 2017, a full-scale model was being built for testing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livefistdefence.com/2017/02/exclusive-indias-ghatak-stealth-ucav-moves-forward.html|title=EXCLUSIVE: India’s Ghatak Stealth UCAV Moves Forward, Likely With Dassault|last=[[Shiv Aroor|Aroor]]|first=[[Shiv Aroor|Shiv]]|website=Livefist|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-28}}</ref><ref name="shivaroor" />

 

A technology demonstrator called ''Stealth Wing Flying Testbed'' (SWiFT) which is a precursor project being developed by [[Aeronautical Development Agency]], [[Aeronautical Development Establishment]] and [[Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=7 February 2017|title=Special Innovative Defence Projects|url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/mbErel.aspx?relid=158187|access-date=2019-10-28|website=[[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]]|via=[[Press Information Bureau]]}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> It is intended to develop technologies required for the final ''Ghatak'' UCAV.<ref name="shivaroor">{{Cite web|url=https://www.livefistdefence.com/2018/02/exclusive-inside-the-world-of-indias-most-secret-combat-aircraft.html|title=EXCLUSIVE: Inside The World Of India’s Most Secret Combat Aircraft Program|last=[[Shiv Aroor|Aroor]]|first=[[Shiv Aroor|Shiv]]|website=Livefist|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-28}}</ref> A prototype of the SWiFT is expected to be flight-tested by 2021 with a [[NPO Saturn]] 36MT [[turbofan]] engine.<ref name="shivaroor"/>  

In Q4 of 2020, a small version of delta wing UAV was developed by ADA and [[IISc]] and test flown in [[Hosur]]. The UAV utilised a microjet engine and attained a maximum velocity of {{cvt|190|km/h}} during flight.<ref>{{Cite news|last=CS|first=Hemant|date=2020-11-03|title=ADA-IISC'S REMOTELY PILOTED AIRCRAFT SUCCESSFULLY TEST FLOWN|url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/ada-iiscs-remotely-piloted-aircraft-successfully-test-flown/articleshow/79010169.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103062923/https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/ada-iiscs-remotely-piloted-aircraft-successfully-test-flown/articleshow/79010169.cms|archive-date=2020-11-03|access-date=2020-11-27}}</ref> As of 2021, the Ghatak name has been dropped and the overall programme gained a flagship status with full support from [[Union government|Union Government]]. The project will also include a deck-based UCAV for [[Indian Navy]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Krishnan M|first=Anantha|date=10 January 2021|title=ADE steps into new decade with planeloads of critical projects|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/india/2021/01/09/ade-steps-into-new-decade-with-planeloads-of-critical-projects.html|url-status=live|access-date=26 July 2021|website=OnManorama}}</ref>

In June 2021, DRDO initiated ground trials of the first assembled prototype weighing 1 ton all-up weight and powered by [[NPO Saturn]] 36MT turbofan engine. The Russian engine will be replaced by Manik Small Turbofan Engine (STFE) at later stage developed [[Gas Turbine Research Establishment]] (GTRE) which was already successfully tested on [[Nirbhay]] cruise missile and [[Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile]] (ITCM).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rout|first=Hemant Kumar|date=11 August 2021|title=DRDO tastes maiden success with new turbofan engine in indigenous cruise missile|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2021/aug/11/drdo-tastes-maiden-success-with-new-turbofan-engine-in-indigenous-cruise-missile-2343378.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-30|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> The prototype will collect data on [[controllability]] of [[flying wing]] configuration and design stability, [[aircraft flight control system]], autonomous landing and take-off technology, [[retractable landing gear]] system and [[radar cross-section]]. [[Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment]] (CVRDE) developed the 1 ton weight class retractable landing gear for SWiFT and delivered it to ADE for integration. It was already certified by [[Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification]] (CEMILAC) and Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DGAQA).<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2021-06-23|title=DRDO initiates the trials of advanced stealth SWiFT drone|url=https://newsonair.com/2021/06/23/drdo-initiates-the-trails-of-advanced-stealth-swift-drone/|access-date=2021-08-30|website=NewsOnAIR -|language=en-US}}</ref>

The prototype is 4 m long with a 5 m long wingspan. The maximum range to receive ground commands is 200 km with an overall weight of 1,050 kg. It can achieve an altitude of 6 km above [[mean sea-level]] with [[flight endurance record]] of 1 hour. Apart from being a precursor for technology development related to Ghatak project, SWiFT will also move ahead as separate project under [[unmanned]] [[wingman]] bomber program.<ref name=":1" />