Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace

Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace builds autonomous unmanned aircraft in Bengaluru, India. The company says its aircraft fly missions on their own, with no pilot on board and no one at a joystick. It describes itself as setting up India's first unmanned aircraft manufacturing platform.

Its aim is to end India's reliance on foreign unmanned aircraft. It also says it wants to give countries that cannot afford costly defence systems an economical and efficient option, so they can protect their sovereignty. Its pages say its work supports defence, surveillance and agriculture.

The flagship aircraft is the Kaalbhairav Heavy, which the company calls India's first autonomous combat aircraft. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 1,000 kg and a wingspan of 14 metres. It carries a payload of 200 to 350 kg, can fly for 15 to 24 hours and has a range of 2,000 km. It can take off in a short distance of 200 metres.

The Kaalbhairav Lite is a smaller autonomous aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of 100 kg and a payload of 25 kg. It flies for about five hours and has a wingspan of 4.4 metres. It launches from a short runway or a catapult. The FWD-LM is a compact loitering munition weighing 12 kg, with a 2.5 kg payload and a flight time of 90 minutes. Yama is a 4 kg interceptor made to bring down enemy drones in flight. It uses an electro-optical and infrared payload, with radar and optical guidance for the final approach.

FWD Supreme is a planned AI-piloted fighter jet. Phase one targets speeds up to Mach 0.9 and a range of 700 to 1,000 km, with autonomous takeoff, mission and recovery. Phase two aims at supersonic speeds near Mach 2.

The company says its range runs from 4 kg up to one tonne on one platform. It states that it is ISO 9001 certified for quality management, that its aircraft are DGCA type certified, and that its products are made in India. It also offers after-sales support across the country.

Services

• Autonomous combat aircraft
• Loitering munitions
• Drone interceptors
• Autonomous unmanned aircraft manufacturing
• After-sales support