HAL CATS Warrior Autonomous Wingman Stealth Drone

The HAL CATS Warrior is non -human-crewed an autonomous wingman stealth drone being developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited  for the Indian Air Force . The warrior is mainly expected to be used by the Indian Air Force, while a similar and smaller version will be designed for the Indian Navy. It would be controlled by the nodriza ship. It is part of the HAL Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) program, which aims to develop a swarm of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that can work together with manned fighter aircraft to carry out missions.

HAL Management approved a sum of $ 53.5 million for its development as of February 2021.

The CATS Warrior is designed to be a low-cost, expendable drone that can be used to carry out a variety of missions, including:

• Air superiority: The CATS Warrior can be used to engage and destroy enemy fighter aircraft, freeing up manned fighter aircraft to focus on other missions.
• Close air support: The CATS Warrior can be used to attack ground targets in support of friendly ground forces.
• Reconnaissance: The CATS Warrior can be used to gather intelligence about enemy positions and activities.
• Electronic warfare: The CATS Warrior can be used to disrupt enemy communications and radar systems.

The CATS Warrior is expected to be equipped with a variety of sensors, including:

• Radar: The CATS Warrior radar will allow it to detect and track enemy aircraft and ground targets.
• Electro-optical sensors: The CATS Warrior electro-optical sensors will allow it to see in visible light, infrared light, and low-light conditions.
• Infrared sensors: The CATS Warrior infrared sensors will allow it to see in complete darkness.

The CATS Warrior will also be able to carry a variety of weapons, including:

• Air-to-air missiles: The CATS Warrior will be able to carry air-to-air missiles to engage and destroy enemy fighter aircraft with ASRAAM Close Combat Missiles for its protection.
• Air-to-surface missiles: The CATS Warrior will be able to carry air-to-surface missiles to attack ground targets.
• Bombs: The CATS Warrior will be able to carry bombs to attack ground targets.

The CATS Warrior is currently in the development phase, and its first flight is expected to take place in 2024. Once it is deployed, the CATS Warrior is expected to significantly enhance the IAF capabilities.

Additional details about the HAL CATS Warrior:

• It is expected to have a range of 700 km and a maximum speed of Mach 0.9 with
• It will be powered by two HAL PTAE/HAL HTFE turbofan engines.
• It will be able to operate in all-weather conditions.
• It will be controlled by a mothership, such as a HAL Tejas fighter aircraft.
• It will be equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) to enable it to operate autonomously.
• It will capable of Auto take-off and landing.
• It will be able to fly up to 9,000 meters (service ceiling).

The HAL CATS Warrior is a significant development for the Indian defense industry and the Indian Air Force. It is a cutting-edge technology that has the potential to revolutionize air warfare.