Xinfiniti Aerospace is conducting ground-phase trials to retrofit ageing Indian Navy Chetak helicopters into autonomous uncrewed aircraft capable of cargo transport, reconnaissance, and combat operations under the iDEX initiative.

Xinfiniti Aerospace is conducting ground-phase trials to retrofit ageing Indian Navy Chetak helicopters into autonomous uncrewed aircraft capable of cargo transport, reconnaissance, and combat operations under the iDEX initiative.

Xinfiniti Aerospace is conducting ground-phase trials to retrofit ageing Indian Navy Chetak helicopters into autonomous uncrewed aircraft capable of cargo transport, reconnaissance, and combat operations under the iDEX initiative.

The Indian Navy's ageing Chetak helicopters, which are being phased out after decades of service, may soon find a new role as autonomous uncrewed aircraft that are capable of carrying out missions ranging from cargo transport to reconnaissance and combat operations.

Xinfiniti AeroSpace, a next-generation aerospace and defence engineering company, has begun ground-phase trials to retrofit the Indian Navy Chetak helicopter into an autonomous uncrewed aircraft.

If the company succeeds in this mission, India will join a group of six countries that have managed to convert retired or existing crewed military helicopter airframes into uncrewed aerial platforms.

According to the company, it specialises in converting proven crewed helicopters, boats and land vehicles into uncrewed systems. Its first programme, NCAS (Naval Chetak Autonomous System), is currently underway with the Indian Navy under the iDEX initiative.

The project involves removing systems associated with human pilots and converting the helicopter into a drone-like platform equipped with autonomous flight controls and ground control systems, according to a report by BusinessLine.

Xinfiniti Aerospace CEO Vishal Kumar Verma said the Indian Navy had awarded the startup a major project to attempt what could be India's first conversion of legacy helicopters into autonomous, pilotless aircraft.

He said the converted helicopters could undertake a variety of missions, including heavy cargo lifting, reconnaissance and combat operations.

Verma further suggested that the project could make autonomous helicopters more accessible to India's defence forces, comparing its potential impact to that of the Maruti 800 in the automobile sector.

According to him, the converted helicopters could operate even in adverse weather conditions at a significantly lower cost than developing an entirely new helicopter of a similar class. The conversion approach could also substantially reduce development timelines.

The Chetak is a multi-role, seven-seater helicopter manufactured in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited under a licence agreement with Sud-Aviation. Inducted into the Indian armed forces beginning in the 1960s, the helicopters have been extensively used by the Navy, Air Force, Army and Coast Guard for transport, communication, search and rescue, maritime patrol, casualty evacuation and other military operations.

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