India’s homegrown AI-powered combat aircraft hits 100-hour flight test milestone

India's AI-powered combat aircraft, the FWD Kaal Bhairava Lite, has successfully completed a significant milestone in its development - 100 cumulative hours of flight testing. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), designed and manufactured entirely in India with an 80% indigenisation rate, showcased its capabilities in challenging weather conditions and multi-terrain environments.

The advanced platform is built to ensure complete data sovereignty and eliminate external kill-switch risks, offering a cost-effective alternative to comparable Predator-class UAV systems. With a design capable of a 1,200-km range and 8-10 hours of endurance, the Kaal Bhairava has the potential to meet the requirements of the Indian Navy and international markets.

The development of this indigenous AI-powered UAV comes as the Indian Navy explores long-range ship- and shore-launched loitering munitions, with a recent Request for Information searching for a system exceeding 1,000 km range and 9+ hours of endurance. The Kaal Bhairava programme has garnered interest from multiple parts of India and international markets, with a $25 million export order secured from a South Asian country and the establishment of the company's first international manufacturing node in Portugal.