Deep tech defence firm Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace (FWDA), which is involved in the development of cutting-edge solutions in AI warfare, autonomous combat aircraft, and UAV systems, announced on Thursday that it has set up its first international manufacturing node for its indigenous UAV Kaalbhairav.
The company said it will manufacture Kaalbhairav UAV in collaboration with Portuguese digital technology and aerospace engineering firm Sketchpixel Lda. This is part of the company's Operation 777, a major push to connect with global defence tech networks. Under the Operation 777 plan, FWDA aims to establish seven global headquarters across 77 countries in the next few years.
The Kaalbhairav is an indegenously designed, developed, and manufactured platform, engineered for long-endurance missions with versatile payload capabilities, supporting both precision airstrike missions and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations.
According to the Bengaluru-headquartered company, this is the first overseas production node for an autonomous combat aircraft designed in India. The move is expected to help the company enter into European defence networks and bring in more collaborative opportunities.
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Sketchpixel Lda will offer simulation technologies, communications systems, AI integration and interoperability capabilities for the Kaalbhairav platform, while the intellectual property rights of the core autonomous systems and airframe design of the aircraft will stay with FWDA.
FWDA founder and CEO Suhas Tejaskanda said the collaboration with the Portuguese team shows the growing global interest in Indian-designed autonomous warfare systems. It also highlights the potential of indigenous defence tech in global manufacturing ecosystems.
Kaalbhairav has a maximum takeoff weight of 150 kg and features a 4.4-metre wingspan. It is built in a twin-boom tail pusher configuration and is powered by an engine-based propulsion system.
The UAV can carry a payload of up to 30 kg and offers an endurance of 10 to 17 hours, making it suitable for extended missions. In its ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) configuration, it has a maximum linear range of 1,500 km and an operational range of 150 km.
Kaalbhairav cruises at a speed of 50 m/s and can reach a maximum speed of 100 m/s, providing a balance between endurance and rapid deployment capability.
