Tata Elxsi Delivers Full-Scale CATS Warrior Demonstrator in Record 14 Weeks, Maiden Flight Planned for 2026

India's next-generation unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) program — the CATS Warrior — is rapidly accelerating toward its first flight in 2026, and Tata Elxsi has emerged as a crucial player in the project's early success. In a remarkable achievement, Tata Elxsi partnered with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to deliver the full-scale demonstrator of the CATS Warrior within just 14 weeks, a record-setting pace that highlights India’s growing aerospace innovation capabilities.

The CATS Warrior (Combat Air Teaming System) is an autonomous, stealthy unmanned combat aircraft designed to function as a "loyal wingman" to frontline fighter jets. Once deployed, it will undertake strike missions, electronic warfare, surveillance, and reconnaissance, operating in high-risk environments while being controlled by or flying in coordination with manned aircraft such as the LCA Tejas or Su-30MKI.

Tata Elxsi played a lead role in the design and development of key components of the CATS Warrior:

• The airframe, ensuring low radar signature and aerodynamic efficiency.

• The fuel system, designed for optimal balance and endurance.

• The landing gear, tailored for autonomous operations.

• Complete system integration and validation, ensuring each subsystem works flawlessly within the larger UCAV architecture.

The recently delivered demonstrator has already cleared its engine ground runs and taxi trials, hitting all planned performance benchmarks. It reflects both structural integrity and functional alignment, laying the foundation for building and testing the flying prototype.

Currently, Tata Elxsi is developing fuselage assembly jigs—large, precision-engineered tools that hold the UAV’s structure in place during manufacturing. These are critical to achieving the dimensional accuracy and alignment needed for flight-worthy prototypes.

Meanwhile, HAL is converting a Kiran jet trainer into a manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) testbed. The instructor’s cockpit of the twin-seater will be modified to host avionics and control systems that replicate UCAV command architecture. In early 2026, this aircraft will take to the skies first under a human pilot, later transitioning to “pilot-in-the-loop” remote operation, simulating real-time battlefield scenarios.

This dual-phase test strategy will allow India to validate not only autonomous flying but also the intricate data-linking required for cooperative combat missions involving manned and unmanned aircraft.

On the propulsion front, HAL successfully conducted ground testing of a low-powered engine for the Warrior in January this year. Though not the final powerplant, this test marked a crucial milestone. HAL is now in talks with international OEMs to co-develop a compact, high-thrust jet engine specifically tailored for the UCAV. Rolls-Royce has shown strong interest in collaborating, opening the door for advanced propulsion technologies to be built in India.

The CATS Warrior’s roadmap includes extensive testing phases, covering:

• Flight autonomy and mission adaptability

• Sensor and communication integration

• Electronic warfare resilience

• Swarm coordination with other unmanned systems

Designed for low observability, long-range operation, and modular payload capacity, the Warrior is expected to play a transformative role in next-generation air warfare, enhancing the Indian Air Force’s ability to penetrate defended airspace and neutralize high-value targets without risking pilot lives.

As part of India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat push for self-reliance in defense manufacturing, the CATS Warrior is not just a technological project — it's a symbol of strategic autonomy, blending indigenous design, accelerated development, and cutting-edge innovation. With its maiden flight just around the corner, the Warrior is poised to change the face of aerial combat for India in the coming decade.