India has outlined plans to develop a carrier-capable stealth combat drone, signaling a major step toward integrating advanced unmanned systems into its naval aviation fleet.
The Naval Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (NUCAV) will build on India’s indigenous Ghatak program, which focuses on autonomous jet-powered aircraft for the armed forces.
According to local media reports, the platform is intended to combine strike, self-defense, scouting, and aerial refueling roles in a single system.
Specifications
The NUCAV will aim at extending the reach and protection of carrier battle groups in contested environments.
It will feature a flying-wing design similar to the US B-2 Spirit bomber and is expected to use the Dry Kaveri non-afterburning turbofan, also planned for the Ghatak program, to streamline costs and sustainment.
Weighing approximately 13 tonnes (28,660 pounds), it would rank among the largest carrier-capable autonomous tactical aircraft under development.
For firepower, the NUCAV will be armed with precision-guided munitions, enabling covert strikes against targets with layered defenses.
It may also be fitted with additional air-to-air weapons and electronic warfare countermeasures for enhanced lethality.
Control is expected to be routed through a satellite-based command hub, enabling beyond-line-of-sight operations across the Indian Ocean.
Wingman Strategy Planned
New Delhi also plans to adapt the NUCAV into manned-unmanned teaming formations, allowing it to operate alongside crewed fighters such as the MiG-29K and future Rafale M aircraft as a force multiplier and decoy.
In addition to combat roles, the platform is also being considered as an autonomous aerial refueler, extending the range of carrier-based fighter jets while minimizing reliance on tanker aircraft.
