- India's first homegrown unmanned bomber aircraft, FWD 200B, successfully completes its maiden flight, boosting national defense capabilities.
- Designed and manufactured entirely in India, the FWD 200B offers 7-hour endurance and 800 km range at just one-tenth the cost of imported US Predator drones.
- FWDA's achievement marks a significant step towards India's self-reliance in defense technology, reducing dependence on costly foreign imports.
Flying Wedge Defence and Aerospace (FWDA) is excited to announce the successful first flight of India's first homegrown unmanned bomber aircraft, the FWD 200B. This marks a significant achievement for the country's defense sector. The announcement was made during a press conference at Fortune Park JP Celestial in Bengaluru, Karnataka, where the flight was shown in a video presentation.
India's defense capabilities are getting a boost with the new UAV, a Medium Altitude (15,000 ft), Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV). The FWD 200B comes with optical payloads for surveillance and missile-like weapons for air strikes and bombing. Its successful test flight at a secret location marks a major milestone in India's goal to produce a combat UAV at home.
At the event, Suhas Tejaskanda, Founder & CEO of FWDA, highlighted that India has been the world's largest importer of arms over the past five years, often paying up to ten times the cost for military technology from countries like the US and Israel. He emphasized that the successful flight of the FWD 200B is not just an achievement for FWDA, but a victory for the entire nation.
“Making India self-reliant, this landmark achievement follows years of persistent efforts to develop a combat UAV indigenously, overcoming challenges that had previously hindered similar initiatives by leading defence agencies,” Tejaskanda added.
The FWD 200B, designed and manufactured entirely in India at FWDA’s 12,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility in Electronic City, Bengaluru, is a compact yet powerful UAV. With a wingspan of 5 meters (16.4 feet) and a length of 3.5 meters (12.1 feet), it boasts an impressive Maximum Take-off Weight (MTOW) of 102 kg and a payload capacity of 30 kg. The aircraft operates at a cruise altitude of 12,000 feet, reaching a maximum of 15,000 feet, and can achieve speeds up to 250 km/h. Additionally, it requires just 300 meters of runway, making it versatile enough for shorter airstrips.
Additionally, according to the official press release shared with Newzchain, the aircraft offers an endurance of 7 hours and a range of 800 km, allowing for extended missions without the need for frequent refueling or landing. With a wingspan of 5 meters (16.4 feet) and a length of 3.5 meters (12.1 feet), it has a Maximum Take-off Weight (MTOW) of 102 kg and can carry a 30 kg payload. The UAV operates at a cruise altitude of 12,000 feet, reaching a maximum of 15,000 feet, and can achieve speeds up to 250 km/h. It requires only 300 meters of runway for takeoff and landing.
The FWD 200B is a significant advancement in India's defense technologies, available at just a tenth of the cost of imported US Predator drones. Known as the Nation’s eagle eye, it showcases India’s ability to produce world-class defense technology and marks a new era of indigenous military innovation, reducing reliance on costly drone imports. FWDA also plans to launch a larger aircraft with a 12-meter wingspan soon.
Edited by Harshajit Sarmah
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