The Defence Procurement Board of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has recommended that the proposal to procure 60 Ghatak unmanned combat aerial vehicles be taken forward, a defence source told the publication. The Ghatak programme is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the armed forces and now awaits approval from the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC). The recommendation marks a notable step in efforts to field indigenous combat drones.

Ghatak, described as a stealth-capable unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), is based on a flying-wing configuration designed to present a low radar cross-section and to carry weapons internally. Once operational, the aircraft is intended to conduct deep-strike missions that penetrate defended airspace to engage high-value targets while avoiding risk to pilots. The system is being designed to operate autonomously or alongside manned aircraft and to suppress or destroy enemy air defences including radar stations and missile systems.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has set out a technology and capability road map titled Vision 2047 and senior leadership has indicated that unmanned systems are not expected to fully replace manned fighters in the foreseeable future while emphasising institutional support for the UCAV programme. Officials said the IAF views unmanned assets as complementary tools that can perform tasks where human risk is unacceptable and that work is under way on multiple research and development projects. The UCAV is seen as an integral component of future force structure.

DRDO has previously carried out flight trials of an Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator that officials describe as a precursor to the Ghatak UCAV. A trial in December 2023 at the Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga used a tailless configuration and demonstrated autonomous landing without reliance on ground radars or infrastructure. The demonstrator, whose maiden flight took place in July 2022, was developed by DRDO's Aeronautical Development Establishment and featured an indigenous lightweight carbon composite structure with embedded sensors for health monitoring. Progress on the demonstrator underpins ongoing development of the full UCAV programme.