Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace Unveils India’s First Indigenous AI-Enabled MALE Combat Drone: FWD Kaala Bhairav!
By Ashutosh Arora
In a landmark achievement for India’s defence sector, Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace (FWDA) has officially announced the operational readiness of Kaala Bhairav, the country’s first fully indigenous, export-ready Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) autonomous combat drone. The announcement was made at an event held at The Lalit Ashok in Bengaluru, marking a pivotal step in India’s journey toward self-reliance in advanced aerospace technologies.
Named after the mythological guardian of time, Kaala Bhairav represents a new chapter in indigenous innovation. Designed, developed, and built entirely in India, the platform boasts an endurance of up to 30 hours and a range of 3,000 kilometers, placing it among the most capable unmanned systems in its class globally. With these specifications, the drone is poised to play a significant role in both national defence and export markets.
FWDA showcased a preview of the drone’s successful test flight and revealed that Kaala Bhairav has already secured its first international order—a $25 million deal with a South Asian country, part of a larger $30 million strategic agreement. This early export success underscores the growing confidence in Indian-built defence platforms and highlights India’s emerging reputation as a trusted supplier of next-generation aerial warfare technologies.
Suhas Tejaskanda, Founder and CEO of FWDA, stressed the importance of sovereignty in defence systems. “For years, India has operated imported platforms like the Predator and Israeli Searcher, often at the cost of strategic control—from embedded kill switches to flight data routed via foreign networks. The current geopolitical climate makes digital dependence a serious vulnerability,” he said. He further emphasized that relying on foreign technologies during conflict could compromise operational autonomy, while Kaala Bhairav represents a step towards ensuring complete control over India’s critical defence assets.
Developed under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, the FWD Kaala Bhairav E2A2 (Economic & Efficient Autonomous Aircraft) aims to deliver advanced capabilities at a fraction of the cost of imported systems. Comparable in performance to platforms like the MQ-9 Reaper, the indigenous drone is designed to operate at one-tenth the price, addressing both financial and strategic challenges associated with foreign defence procurement.
One of the drone’s standout features is its AI-powered swarm coordination capability, which allows multiple units to work in synchronized formations. This enables precision strikes from several angles simultaneously, effectively neutralizing enemy air defences and overwhelming critical infrastructure. Its modular design further enhances operational flexibility, simplifying logistics, maintenance, and rapid deployment, even in remote or frontline environments.
Scalability is central to the platform’s design, making it suitable for a wide range of mission profiles, from long-range surveillance and persistent patrols to precision strike missions. By offering adaptability without the need for costly modifications, Kaala Bhairav addresses the complex and varied challenges of modern warfare.
FWDA, founded in 2022 by Suhas Tejaskanda, has rapidly established itself as a leader in India’s autonomous defence sector. The company was the first private Indian firm to receive DGCA type certification for a UAV and has achieved several milestones, including the test flight of the country’s first indigenous unmanned bomber, the FWD-200B, in September 2024. Beyond defence, FWDA has also explored dual-use technologies, developing AI-enabled drones for agricultural applications.
With a growing portfolio of unmanned aerial platforms, FWDA is helping transform India from a buyer into a builder and exporter of advanced drone technologies. As global demand for intelligent, agile, and affordable UAVs increases, FWDA’s innovations are positioning India as a serious contender in the next generation of warfare technology. By prioritizing autonomy, resilience, and cost-effectiveness, the company is contributing not only to India’s strategic independence but also to reshaping the global UAV market.
