Ghatak and Rustom Indigenous UAV Programs

[Chain Smoker]

Let's see now , the CCS approval for the Ghatak is expected to come in this FY. That's no guarantee for the funds being released but assuming it is , the prototype will take 3 years to be ready for Taxi & Flight Trials.

Moreover the power plant - the KDE is yet to be certified. Neither have we procured an FTB nor is the LCA Mk-1 LSP variant which was requisitioned by DRDO from IAF been allotted for testing or is there any news of the KDE being flight tested & certified on board a Russian FTB though I doubt this can be done for the process itself will be time consuming .

So news about the Ghatak already being fabricated aside ( I'd take such news with a fistful of salt given I've personally seen reports of the AMCA prototype undergoing metal cutting in 2022 - the golden year of Indian defence where a lot was predicted to happen & till date nothing has come out of it or the prediction ) , where's the power plant ?

Assuming through some miracle ADE , DRDO & IAF do manage to get it flying on board the LCA Mk-1 LSP variant , I suspect the testing & certification ought to take anywhere between 3-5 years . If this process begins in 2027 we can expect certification between 2030-32 .

Add another 4-5 years for flying & certification of the Ghatak post that as the entire system has to be validated which means testing it against various parameters including opening up of the flight envelope.

One more important point - since this is the first time we'd be testing both - the indigenous power plant : the KDE & a stealth UCAV we don't have any previous parameters to go by . So expect the testing to be that much more time consuming & laborious .

God forbid it there are glitches then time taken to rectify it will have to be factored in . Once it is certified comes our famed paperwork & negotiations for a contract.

In short don't expect the Ghatak to go in for mass production before 2040 at the very least.

This shit is not flying before 2033.


By that time porkis will get their hands on Turkish & Chinese flying wing.

Both amca & ghatak are turning out to be a even bigger clown project than tejas.

 

[Speedster1]

This shit is not flying before 2033.
View attachment 50934

By that time porkis will get their hands on Turkish & Chinese flying wing.

Both amca & ghatak are turning out to be a even bigger clown project than tejas.

DAC clearance doesn't mean a thing until the IAF moves the case file. Currently, the IAF is in wait and watch mode. CDR w/o user involvement is just bizarre.

 

[Ashwin]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2049749964109320666

He should have said its more like a small bomber or strike aircraft.

 

[Rajput Lion]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2049749964109320666

He should have said its more like a small bomber or strike aircraft.

Unmanned Fighter-Bomber would also be an apt term as it is also supposed to carry Astra BVRs internally along with various air-to-surface munitions. Anyways, there is confusion about FUFA & IUSV. Maybe, the first derivative stealth-flying wing is for air-to-air role while the latter is only for strike. Let's see.

 

[Ashwin]

Unmanned Fighter-Bomber would also be an apt term as it is also supposed to carry Astra BVRs internally along with various air-to-surface munitions. Anyways, there is confusion about FUFA & IUSV. Maybe, the first derivative stealth-flying wing is for air-to-air role while the latter is only for strike. Let's see.

There is no fighter in a flying wing design. There is no confusion; FUFA is the name of the engine demonstrator prototype. It's all the same thing. Renaming while exchanging files between DRDO labs.

 

[Rajput Lion]

There is no fighter in a flying wing design. There is no confusion; FUFA is the name of the engine demonstrator prototype. It's all the same thing. Renaming while exchanging files between DRDO labs.

DRDO chief is not wrong in calling it a stealth-fighter if FUFA= Futuristic Unmanned Fighter Aircraft. So your point is already countered by the project name

He should have said its more like a small bomber or strike aircraft.

 

[Ashwin]

DRDO chief is not wrong in calling it a stealth-fighter if FUFA= Futuristic Unmanned Fighter Aircraft. So your point is already countered by the project name

If history is any indication, they are not very bright when it comes to naming things.

Check this video on clarification on FUFA.

 

[PhotonVish]

_> Hey u all can u tell me what ada not decided to have side weapon bay for amca to carry 2 wvr missile ?

-> And is it confirmed that AMCA will carry 6 astra mk2/3 (with folding fins )?

-> And why not add astra mk2/3 in ghatak ? Ghatak is more stealthy than even f22

In ere for long range bvr fights, do we we even need vertical tail ?

Do we even need super menurabality when 2 pulse/ramjet missiles exists who have high enemy in end game hence hard to dodge by menurabality (ecm can only be effective along with stealth)

 

[PhotonVish]

How many astra mk3 ghatak can carry ?

Hope it can carry 6.

Ghatak with flying wing design will be far far more stealthy than amca and can go much closour and launch missiles guided via awacs

 

[Barcid]

_> Hey u all can u tell me what ada not decided to have side weapon bay for amca to carry 2 wvr missile ?

-> And is it confirmed that AMCA will carry 6 astra mk2/3 (with folding fins )?

-> And why not add astra mk2/3 in ghatak ? Ghatak is more stealthy than even f22

In ere for long range bvr fights, do we we even need vertical tail ?

Do we even need super menurabality when 2 pulse/ramjet missiles exists who have high enemy in end game hence hard to dodge by menurabality (ecm can only be effective along with stealth)

How would ghatak fire that astra? Does it even have a radar?

 

[PhotonVish]

How would ghatak fire that astra? Does it even have a radar?

Like b2 but with a2a mode ?? And i guess we should develop ghatak with a radar. I dont think it will be as huge as amca, but still can be fitted in it

And it can still fire missile and then guided by amacs or amca

 

[BHARAT KA BETA]

Like b2 but with a2a mode ?? And i guess we should develop ghatak with a radar. I dont think it will be as huge as amca, but still can be fitted in it

And it can still fire missile and then guided by amacs or amca

As per the unofficial information GHATAK / Stealth Flying wing UCAV will have an onboard GaN based AESA + EW suite. Though the number of TRM is not confirmed.