Ghatak RPSA/UCAV: News & Discussion

[Rakesh]

Please use this thread to track all news on the Ghatak RPSA (Remotely Piloted Strike Aircraft) / UCAV (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle).

[Rakesh]

India ‘Greenlights’ 4 Squadrons of Ghatak Stealth Bomber Drone
https://www.livefistdefence.com/india-g ... ber-drone/
27 March 2026

What is Ghatak UCAV? India’s indigenous next-gen stealth strike drone approved to transform air combat
https://www.wionews.com/photos/what-is- ... 4631793472
27 March 2026

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/Aryan_warlord/status/2037 ... 45478?s=20 --->

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/ajitkdubey/status/2037394 ... 54664?s=20 ---> Four squadrons of unmanned combat jets would be the star of the show! Would be a big capability boost for the Indian Air Force for future conflicts.

https://x.com/firebase25/status/2037413 ... 67367?s=20 --->
* 13 ton MTOW
* 1.5 ton internal payload
* 30,000 ft service celling
* Mach 0.9 top speed
* Two hour endurance
* 52 kN dry engine
* 900 kg engine weight
* SAAW, HSLD, PGMs, A2G missiles, hopefully BrahMos NG (max 600 cm Internal Weapons Bay)
* ISR, SEAD, DEAD, Deep Strike missions

[Rakesh]

MoD okays 5 more Russian air defence system S-400s, DRDO's Ghatak combat drones
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/defen ... bat-drone/
28 March 2026

Five additional S-400 systems worth $6.1 billion (Rs 63,000 crore) will double India’s air defence arsenal; the panel will also procure 60 Ghatak unmanned combat aerial vehicles.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/rv_srivatsa/status/203754 ... 11297?s=20 ---> The truth is Kaveri wouldn't have survived if DAC didn't clear RPSA/Ghatak this year. Engine production was on and Godrej is delivering on time. RPSA cannot make the engine wait, for Kaveri has waited 3 decades to growl.

https://x.com/Rethik_D/status/2039740376299548928?s=20 ---> First look of fully integrated KDE (Kaveri dry engine) with AFADECU* meant to power First Vehicle of RPSA.
*Advanced Full Authority Digital Engine Control Unit

https://x.com/alpha_defense/status/2039 ... 04284?s=20 ---> Enhanced Dry Kaveri.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/ParthVa53135321/status/20 ... 75?s=20--->

60+ UCAV to be made (4 squadrons) for ₹39,000 crore
80% Indigenous Content.
Same concept as AMCA - - - ₹10,000 crore bid to build six prototypes by the selected DcPP (Defence cum Production Partner), after which orders for serial production will be given.
8 years to induction targeted
ONCE AGAIN Huge Opportunity for Indian Private Firms

https://x.com/manupubby/status/2039185430617419911?s=20 ---> Unmanned stealth fighters to open ₹39,000 crore opportunity for industry. Ghatak RPSA programme to run parallel to AMCA, follow same model. AMCA-RPSA to operate together. Industry collaboration for prototypes, serial production. Indigenous Content is 80%.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/ParthVa53135321/status/20 ... 70744?s=20 ---> Ghatak UCAV. BIGGEST WIN!

VLO (Very Low Observable)
12 to 13 Ton MTOW (Maximum Take Off Weight)
IWB (Internal Weapons Bay)
Powered by KDE (Kaveri Derivative Engine) with 48 kN output
2+ Ton Payload
3.7 Tons (3,700 kg) of internal fuel, so massive range
Mach 0.8 - 0.9 Subsonic

This will be one of the most important assets in the future. Hope we see a mass production in 5 to 7 years.

MTOW almost of Tejas Mk1/Mk1A and internal fuel more than Tejas Mk1/Mk1A.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/rv_srivatsa/status/203754 ... 11297?s=20 ---> The truth is Kaveri wouldn't have survived if DAC didn't clear RPSA/Ghatak this year. Engine production was on and Godrej is delivering on time. RPSA cannot make the engine wait, for Kaveri has waited 3 decades to growl.

India's Kaveri engine set for big comeback? ₹39,000 crore Ghatak drone reboot offers fresh lifeline for homegrown engine
https://www.theweek.in/news/defence/202 ... e.amp.html
01 April 2026

[titash]

https://x.com/ParthVa53135321/status/20 ... 70744?s=20 ---> Ghatak UCAV. BIGGEST WIN!

VLO (Very Low Observable)
12 to 13 Ton MTOW (Maximum Take Off Weight)
IWB (Internal Weapons Bay)
Powered by KDE (Kaveri Derivative Engine) with 48 kN output
2+ Ton Payload
3.7 Tons (3,700 kg) of internal fuel, so massive range
Mach 0.8 - 0.9 Subsonic

This will be one of the most important assets in the future. Hope we see a mass production in 5 to 7 years.

MTOW almost of Tejas Mk1/Mk1A and internal fuel more than Tejas Mk1/Mk1A.

By far the single most important decision made for Indian aerospace. This is the PSLV moment. India needs a 1,000-Ghatak plan over the next decade. The Iran-US/Israel conflict clearly shows that local production = staying power, irrespective of the sophistication and "equal to western standards" brochuritis

[Cybaru]

https://x.com/Aryan_warlord/status/2037 ... 45478?s=20 --->

LOL - AI driven! Sheesh - So much over use of word AI everywhere... Too much AI in this marketing fluufff...

[bala]

So much over use of word AI everywhere.

In the case of Autonomous vehicles, lots of AI is used as default, perhaps machine learning is more appropriate. These are the true AI machines since these vehicles have to take in many real-time variables to navigate independently. Nowadays AI marketing is about prompt engineering and generative AI products.

[Cybaru]

Yes - everyones favorite chatengine is now how the larger world sees AI.

[Rakesh]

By far the single most important decision made for Indian aerospace. This is the PSLV moment. India needs a 1,000-Ghatak plan over the next decade. The Iran-US/Israel conflict clearly shows that local production = staying power, irrespective of the sophistication and "equal to western standards" brochuritis

1,000 Ghataks...I love it! I really do! +108 to you!

See this Saar ---> viewtopic.php?p=2677251#p2677251

The sheer level of obtuseness is alarming. 1,000 KDE turbofans would go a *L-O-N-G* way towards the manufacture of future turbofans.

It is sad and criminal that the Modi Govt does not see this.

[titash]

By far the single most important decision made for Indian aerospace. This is the PSLV moment. India needs a 1,000-Ghatak plan over the next decade. The Iran-US/Israel conflict clearly shows that local production = staying power, irrespective of the sophistication and "equal to western standards" brochuritis

1,000 Ghataks...I love it! I really do! +108 to you!

See this Saar ---> viewtopic.php?p=2677251#p2677251

The sheer level of obtuseness is alarming. 1,000 KDE turbofans would go a *L-O-N-G* way towards the manufacture of future turbofans.

It is sad and criminal that the Modi Govt does not see this.

The Iran crisis is proving a few very important things.

#1 The IN should invest in a fleet of 6 fast heavily armed mine-layers. Something on these lines:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdiel-class_minelayer

Base 3 at Bombay and 3 at Port Blair. The DRDO also has a recent order for 1000+ sensor fuzed mines IIRC

Its clear that mining the straits of Hormuz and the Malacca straits will have compounding effects i.e. "make it everyone else's problem" in case India is attacked by supapawas

#2 Pralays + Shauryas need to be ordered in the 1000s
Great for jobs
Great for dhoti shivering

#3 Arihant class should evolve into an SSGN
A boat with 12-24 1000km ranged K-15/Shauryas can threaten industrial centers in the heartland of any adversary
5-6 SSGNs will encourage global restraint with enforce peace & tranquility