HAL loyal wingman project to go airborne by 2024

[INDIAPOSITIVE]

HAL loyal wingman project to go airborne by 2024​

by Akhil Kadidal





HAL's CATS Warrior loyal wingman UCAV could take to the skies by 2024, industry sources told Janes . (Janes)

A loyal wingman programme being developed by India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is on schedule to see flight-testing by 2024.

Known as the Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) Warrior, the project began in 2018 and was showcased during Aero India 2021.

The company described the Warrior as a twin-engined autonomous, unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV). The aircraft is intended to operate behind or alongside manned fighter aircraft to protect their tails. The UCAV is being designed to attack aerial and ground targets.

According to an HAL source, the project has advanced since Aero India 2021.

“The CATS Warrior is currently in wind tunnel testing. Our original timetable for deployment was 2024–25 and we expect flight testing of the CATS Warrior to start in 2024,” the source told Janes .

Janes understands that the company has two indigenous engine options for the Warrior. One is HAL's PTAE-7, a 400 kg, 3.43 kN single spool turbojet developed in the 1980s. The second is HTFE-25, a 25 kN turbofan under development by HAL.

Janes reported previously that the HTFE-25 has a twin-spool, mixed-flow, low bypass configuration. The low pressure spool consists of a three-stage low-pressure fan driven by single-stage low-pressure turbine, and the high pressure spool consists of a five-stage high-pressure compressor driven by a single-stage high-pressure turbine.

The company said that it hopes to certify the engine by 2025.

“As the CATS Warrior is a twin-engined design, we believe that using two HTFE-25 engines will give the UCAV the necessary performance to match frontline combat aircraft,” the HAL source said.

HAL loyal wingman project to go airborne by 2024

A loyal wingman programme being developed by India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is on schedule to see flight-testing by 2024.

www.janes.com

https://twitter.com/x/status/1506919013397508099

 

[Indos]

HAL loyal wingman project to go airborne by 2024​

by Akhil Kadidal





HAL's CATS Warrior loyal wingman UCAV could take to the skies by 2024, industry sources told Janes . (Janes)

A loyal wingman programme being developed by India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is on schedule to see flight-testing by 2024.

Known as the Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) Warrior, the project began in 2018 and was showcased during Aero India 2021.

The company described the Warrior as a twin-engined autonomous, unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV). The aircraft is intended to operate behind or alongside manned fighter aircraft to protect their tails. The UCAV is being designed to attack aerial and ground targets.

According to an HAL source, the project has advanced since Aero India 2021.

“The CATS Warrior is currently in wind tunnel testing. Our original timetable for deployment was 2024–25 and we expect flight testing of the CATS Warrior to start in 2024,” the source told Janes .

Janes understands that the company has two indigenous engine options for the Warrior. One is HAL's PTAE-7, a 400 kg, 3.43 kN single spool turbojet developed in the 1980s. The second is HTFE-25, a 25 kN turbofan under development by HAL.

Janes reported previously that the HTFE-25 has a twin-spool, mixed-flow, low bypass configuration. The low pressure spool consists of a three-stage low-pressure fan driven by single-stage low-pressure turbine, and the high pressure spool consists of a five-stage high-pressure compressor driven by a single-stage high-pressure turbine.

The company said that it hopes to certify the engine by 2025.

“As the CATS Warrior is a twin-engined design, we believe that using two HTFE-25 engines will give the UCAV the necessary performance to match frontline combat aircraft,” the HAL source said.

HAL loyal wingman project to go airborne by 2024

A loyal wingman programme being developed by India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is on schedule to see flight-testing by 2024.

www.janes.com

https://twitter.com/x/status/1506919013397508099

What happen with India unfinish indigenous MALE UAV and UCAV development ? I think the concentration should be on those MALE development first before even jump to wingman program

 

[Joe Shearer]

What happen with India unfinish indigenous MALE UAV and UCAV development ? I think the concentration should be on those MALE development first before even jump to wingman program

The number of eligible personnel has been growing.

 

[RPK]

indigenous MALE UAV

Development completed

India demonstrates autonomous take-off, landing capabilities of Rustom II UAV

India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has demonstrated the Rustom II medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle's (UAV's)...

www.janes.com

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rustom-2-indigenous-uav-crosses-a-milestone/article37963891.ece

 

[Indos]

Development completed

India demonstrates autonomous take-off, landing capabilities of Rustom II UAV

India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has demonstrated the Rustom II medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle's (UAV's)...

www.janes.com

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rustom-2-indigenous-uav-crosses-a-milestone/article37963891.ece

How come it is completed ? Have you read the news ? It is about flight test

Development is only completed after the MALE gets type certificate after extensive static and flight test being conducted which passes the minimum requirement based on the design phase and also should have gotten military certification by India Armed Force and concrete orders

 

[Raj-Hindustani]

Seems too much targets in 2024-25
1. AMCA
2. HAL Tejas mk1a and mk2
2. UCAV
3. Shivalik frigates from both shipyards
5. New indian submarines SsBN
6. A nuclear submarine lease from Russia.
7. New indian made destroyers

And so many other in under develop indian made arms..... To many are in pipelines.

Only developing a arjun tank, I would count a failure

 

[Black Tornado]

What happen with India unfinish indigenous MALE UAV and UCAV development ? I think the concentration should be on those MALE development first before even jump to wingman program

Different labs, different projects.

 

[RealNapster]

I want to ask members with knowledge of such matter, is MIUS going to play (or can it be configured as) wingman ? If yes, I think this is good opportunity for PAF to jump in that program. It was expected to have first flight in 2023 but with war in Ukraine I think it will get delayed atleast a year. Still keeping track record of HAL, I think MIUS will flow and mature much before this HAL wingman.

 

[Indos]

The number of eligible personnel has been growing.

Different labs, different projects.

I think UAV development should be handled in the same lab/division. Unless you are American where there are various experience aerospace companies or China with two strong Aerospace state owned aerospace companies that have developed their own indigenous planes.

In order to have a learning curve on any UAV/UCAV development, double on going UAV/UCAV project should be handled with the same team, I think it is true for aerospace industry like Indonesia and India where the capable design capabilities ( proven by experience in developing indigenous aircraft) is only owned by one company.

 

[Riz]

What happen with India unfinish indigenous MALE UAV and UCAV development ? I think the concentration should be on those MALE development first before even jump to wingman program

They never able to succeed developing a subsonic cruise missile Nirbhay and home made drone rustam 2 yet , but now money hungry Indian military generals thrown another lollipop infront of local audience to suck there tax money

 

[Cheepek]

I think UAV development should be handled in the same lab/division. Unless you are American where there are various experience aerospace companies or China with two strong Aerospace state owned aerospace companies that have developed their own indigenous planes.

In order to have a learning curve on any UAV/UCAV development, double on going UAV/UCAV project should be handled with the same team, I think it is true for aerospace industry like Indonesia and India where the capable design capabilities ( proven by experience in developing indigenous aircraft) is only owned by one company.

Who cares what you think?

 

[Joe Shearer]

Only developing a arjun tank, I would count a failure

I wouldn't. There is enough in the design to permit modifications to meet every one of the artificial obstacles that had been put in its path, as well as the genuine weak spots that have been detected. The basic design was fine, nothing wrong with it at all.

I think UAV development should be handled in the same lab/division. Unless you are American where there are various experience aerospace companies or China with two strong Aerospace state owned aerospace companies that have developed their own indigenous planes.

Some UAV work has been going on outside, outside the state-owned public sector system, from 99-00 onwards. There is a flow of technology between various projects, but it is difficult to visualise full teams being merged without the consent of their parent or outright nationalisation.

They never able to succeed developing a subsonic cruise missile Nirbhay and home made drone rustam 2 yet , but now money hungry Indian military generals thrown another lollipop infront of local audience to suck there tax money

Here come the Burnol babies.

 

[sky1234]

They never able to succeed developing a subsonic cruise missile Nirbhay and home made drone rustam 2 yet , but now money hungry Indian military generals thrown another lollipop infront of local audience to suck there tax money

So sad they accidenly made hypersonic and supersonic lol correct your info source the babur which your country made was a live tomahawk revese engineered

 

[Joe Shearer]

I think UAV development should be handled in the same lab/division. Unless you are American where there are various experience aerospace companies or China with two strong Aerospace state owned aerospace companies that have developed their own indigenous planes.

In order to have a learning curve on any UAV/UCAV development, double on going UAV/UCAV project should be handled with the same team, I think it is true for aerospace industry like Indonesia and India where the capable design capabilities ( proven by experience in developing indigenous aircraft) is only owned by one company.

I've been thinking about this.

Perhaps it may be possible to put all public sector UAV/UCAV activity under one umbrella organisation, as ADA became for all LCA/Tejas development. ADA does a considerable amount of work itself, but is far more important in ensuring that the efforts of its coordinate units are, in fact, coordinated. The private sector will come on board if it senses profitability, that stems from efficiency, that stems from ensuring that there is no duplication of effort, so logically, at some stage, if the terms of engagement are left sufficiently encouraging, they, too, will be part of this.

 

[GamoAccu]

Copycat of American Loyal Wingman.

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