India to purchase 60 Ghatak stealth combat drones for future autonomous deep strike force
India's Defence Procurement Board recommended the acquisition of 60 Ghatak unmanned combat aerial vehicles on 3 March 2026, as reported by Business Standard. The proposal now moves to the Defence Acquisition Council, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, for approval before procurement decisions are finalised.
Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, the Ghatak is intended primarily for the Indian Air Force as part of long-term force planning under the Vision 2047 capability roadmap. That roadmap integrates unmanned combat aircraft into the future combat structure alongside manned fighters, with the aim of fielding an indigenous stealth strike drone able to operate in high-threat environments. The 60 units correspond to a first operational batch for deep-strike missions and suppression of enemy air defences.
A flying wing with an internal bay
The Ghatak is a jet-powered UCAV built around a flying-wing configuration to reduce radar detection and improve aerodynamic efficiency. The design eliminates conventional tail surfaces, lowering radar reflections and allowing the aircraft to penetrate airspace defended by radar networks and missile systems.
It carries missiles, bombs and precision-guided munitions in an internal weapons bay, preserving its low-observable characteristics during combat. Intended missions include deep strike, suppression and destruction of enemy air defences, and attacks on strategic infrastructure such as command centres or radar installations.
Because it can operate autonomously or alongside manned aircraft in coordinated missions, the Ghatak may enter contested zones ahead of Indian fighters such as the Tejas and the AMCA, identifying threats and striking priority targets before crewed aircraft are exposed.
From AURA to Ghatak
The programme originates in the earlier Autonomous Unmanned Research Aircraft effort, initiated in 2009 to examine the feasibility of an Indian stealth unmanned combat aircraft. That programme concluded in April 2013 and was followed by the Ghatak development effort, led by the Aeronautical Development Establishment with design work involving the Aeronautical Development Agency and cooperation with the Indian Air Force.
The aircraft is expected to weigh less than 15 tonnes and operate at altitudes up to 30,000 feet while carrying internal guided weapons. Onboard systems include mission computers, fire control radars, identification friend-or-foe equipment, collision avoidance and secure data links.
Autonomous navigation, mission management and sensor fusion are central to the architecture. Together they are what would allow the Ghatak to detect, track and engage targets without direct pilot control while remaining connected to command networks.