India’s ‘Ghatak’ Stealth UCAV Breakthrough: 70 Drone Fleet to Redefine Indo-Pacific Airpower
Defence affairs analysis - Def-Geopolitics India’s DRDO confirms 7–8 year timeline for indigenous flying-wing stealth UCAV powered by Kaveri engine, with 60–70 drones set to execute deep strike, ISR, and SEAD missions in contested airspace without pilot risk. DRDO Chairman Dr. Samir V. Kamat’s characterization of the platform as “like fighters… a stealth fighter… about a 13-ton class” underscores a doctrinal shift from attrition-sensitive manned aviation toward autonomous, low-observable strike systems engineered for high-risk penetration missions in heavily defended airspace. With government clearance for approximately 60–70 airframes—equivalent to roughly four operational squadrons—at an estimated cost of ₹39,000 crore (approximately US$4.7 billion / RM17.9 billion), India is structurally committing to a scalable unmanned strike capability that recalibrates both deterrence thresholds and operational tempo in future conflicts. This programme reflects a convergence of strat...
