In order to strengthen its fighter squadrons, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is speeding up the CATS Warrior Program, which intends to acquire 200–250 Loyal Wingman drones. This program is a component of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) larger Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) development.
Unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) CATS Warrior is intended to fly alongside manned fighter jets like the Su-30MKI and Tejas. The program’s main goal is to provide a flexible platform that can carry out a range of tasks, such as:
protecting manned aircraft by engaging enemy targets and taking fire.
collecting information and carrying out reconnaissance missions.
utilizing jamming devices to obstruct communications with adversaries.
With a combat radius of 350 km for return missions and up to 800 km for self-destruct missions, the CATS Warrior will be able to engage targets efficiently while posing the least amount of risk to human pilots.
It can work covertly in dangerous situations and is made for high-risk missions.
able to launch loitering munitions such as the ALFA-S, conduct air-to-air warfare, and carry out targeted strikes with Smart Anti-Airfield Weapons (SAAW).
Since its launch in 2019, the program has advanced quickly, and HAL intends to start flight testing by 2024. Full-scale versions are anticipated over the next two years, with a scaled-down prototype currently undergoing testing. With improved manned-unmanned teaming capabilities, the IAF expects these drones to be operational by 2028–2030, drastically altering aerial combat tactics.
The IAF has advanced significantly with the advent of the CATS Warrior drones, which have the potential to completely transform air warfare tactics. The IAF hopes to improve its overall combat effectiveness and pilot safety during high-risk missions by incorporating these drones into its operational structure. India’s air defense capabilities are further strengthened by the large-scale production and deployment of these drones, which are projected to cost less than $5 million each.
