India has successfully completed the maiden flight test of its first indigenous unmanned bomber aircraft, the FWD 200B.
A medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) platform, the FWD 200B is armed with missile-like weaponry for conducting air strikes and bombing missions.
It also boasts sophisticated optical payloads to support surveillance and reconnaissance operations.
FWD-200B : Experience cutting-edge defense technology as the FWD-200B demonstrates unrivaled precision and power in our latest testing video.#flyingwedge #FWD200B #defencetechnology #aerospace #defence #model #techinnovation #ucav #dronerevolution #technology #testflight pic.twitter.com/AWG349G7Mm
— FLYING WEDGE DEFENCE AEROSPACE (@Flying_Wedge_) September 4, 2024
Comparable in size to the Iranian Shahed-136 drone, the FWD 200B can reportedly reach speeds of up to 250 kilometers (155 miles) per hour and stay in the air for more than seven hours.
It also has an extended operational range of 800 kilometers (497 miles) and requires a 300-meter (984-foot) runway for takeoff.
Once operational, the drone is expected to bolster India’s combat capability and enhance its strategic flexibility with a maximum altitude of 15,000 feet (4,572 meters).
Cost-Effective Alternative
The development of the FWD 200B comes as India faces challenges in securing an international supplier to fill its combat drone needs.
Turkey has refused to sell its Bayraktar drones to New Delhi over fear of “war profiteering,” while India’s planned acquisition of American MQ-9B Predator drones continues to face delays.
According to developer Flying Wedge Defence and Aerospace (FWDA), the new unmanned combat aircraft promises to be a cost-effective alternative to imported systems.
It will also boost India’s self-reliance in defense, as the drone’s aerodynamics, airframe, propulsion systems, control systems, and electronics have all been designed and developed domestically.
“India is the world’s largest importer of arms in the last five years, and has often paid up to ten times the cost for military technology from countries like the US and Israel,” FWDA CEO Suhas Tejaskanda said.
“The successful flight of the FWD 200B is not just an achievement for our company, but a victory for the entire nation.”
