Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace (FWDA), an Indian defence technology and AI warfare company, has completed 100 cumulative hours of flight testing of its indigenous FWD Kaal Bhairava Lite unmanned aircraft. The development comes as the Indian Navy examines long-range ship- and shore-launched loitering munitions. FWDA said the Kaal Bhairava Lite configuration has been designed for a range of around 1,200 km and an endurance of 8–10 hours.
During flight testing, the aircraft has demonstrated climb rates of 7–8 metres per second and cruise speeds of 100–120 kmph. The platform has also completed take-off and landing within less than 120 metres, according to the company. The flight-test programme has included operations under challenging weather conditions. The aircraft was tested in the Bay of Bengal in wind conditions featuring gusts of 25–30 knots, providing the development team with flight data on aircraft behaviour and control in strong winds. FWDA has also completed a demonstration of the Kaal Bhairava Lite in the operating environment of Jammu & Kashmir.
“One hundred hours of flight testing gives us an extensively tested indigenous aircraft architecture. Kaal Bhairava has demonstrated its short-field capability, strong climb performance and operation in demanding wind conditions,” said Suhas Tejaskanda, Founder and CEO, FWDA. “With a 1,200-km-class design and 8–10 hours of endurance, we believe the platform has significant potential for both the Indian Navy requirement and international markets,” he added.
FWDA is developing a pneumatic-assisted launch configuration for the Kaal Bhairava Lite. The system is intended to enable deployment from ships and austere locations without relying on conventional runway infrastructure. The development is being pursued as the Indian Navy evaluates long-range ship- and shore-launched loitering munitions. The Navy’s current RFI seeks a system with a range exceeding 1,000 km and more than nine hours of endurance. FWDA is assessing the Kaal Bhairava architecture for possible adaptation to such requirements.
The company said the programme has also attracted interest from Indian and international markets. FWDA has previously secured an export order from a South Asian country. As part of its international expansion, FWDA has established its first overseas manufacturing node in Portugal. The facility is intended to provide the company with an entry point into Europe and support its efforts to access opportunities across the wider European and NATO defence ecosystem.
Founded in 2022 by Suhas Tejaskanda, FWDA is headquartered in Bengaluru and develops autonomous aircraft and AI-enabled defence systems. The company has developed the FWD-200B unmanned bomber aircraft and the Kaal Bhairava family of autonomous combat aircraft. The Kaal Bhairava Lite has also undergone demonstrations with Indian defence stakeholders, including operations in high-altitude areas of Jammu & Kashmir.
