Indian defense company Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace (FWDA) has partnered with Portuguese firm Keydef to manufacture its indigenous drone technology, including the Kaalbhairav Lite autonomous UAV and YAMA interceptor drone, in Portugal for global markets.

Indian defense company Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace (FWDA) has partnered with Portuguese firm Keydef to manufacture its indigenous drone technology, including the Kaalbhairav Lite autonomous UAV and YAMA interceptor drone, in Portugal for global markets.

Indian defense company Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace (FWDA) has partnered with Portuguese firm Keydef to manufacture its indigenous drone technology, including the Kaalbhairav Lite autonomous UAV and YAMA interceptor drone, in Portugal for global markets.

An agreement between Indian deep-tech defence company Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace (FWDA) and Portuguese firm Keydef is set to take India's indigenous drone technology into international manufacturing, opening the door for the production of indigenous UAV systems in Portugal for global markets.

FWDA and Keydef, the defence and aerospace division of Portuguese company Sketchpixel LDA, have signed an agreement to manufacture the Kaalbhairav Lite autonomous UAV and YAMA interceptor drone in Portugal.

The importance of the agreement extends beyond manufacturing. Keydef will make an initial investment of €6 million in FWDA, while Sketchpixel and Keydef will also contribute to the development of electronic components and artificial intelligence for the systems.

Another key element is NATO certification. Sketchpixel and Keydef have agreed to secure NATO certification for all systems manufactured in Portugal, potentially strengthening their prospects in international markets.

The Kaalbhairav Lite is an indigenously designed, developed and manufactured platform built for long-endurance missions. Its ability to carry versatile payloads allows it to perform both precision airstrike missions and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations.

The YAMA, meanwhile, is an interceptor drone designed to take down hostile drones in the air. Its small size and stealth-focused design make it difficult for enemy radar to detect. Built-in radar and smart navigation allow it to track and engage targets autonomously.

According to media reports, manufacturing in Portugal will eventually encompass FWDA's entire portfolio, including surveillance systems, air defence and civilian applications such as precision agriculture.

FWDA CEO Suhas Tejaskanda described Portugal as a gateway for taking Indian engineering into Europe.

“Portugal represents a natural gateway for bringing Indian engineering into Europe. The combination of industrial capability, AI expertise and research partnerships gives us the opportunity to build a much broader aerospace technology footprint in Portugal,” he said.

Miguel Abreu, CEO of SketchPixel and director of Keydef, said the agreement would turn the partnership into a manufacturing operation.

“This agreement transforms a relationship of trust into a factory. Portugal will now produce, in a partnership that combines Portuguese and Indian engineering and know-how, systems that will be sold worldwide,” Abreu said.

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