Bengaluru: Flying Wedge Defence and Aerospace (FWDA) on September 3 announced the successful maiden flight of India’s first indigenous unmanned bomber aircraft, the FWD 200B, marking a historic milestone in the nation’s defence sector.
The announcement was made at a press conference in Bengaluru, where the first flight was showcased through a video screening.
Equipping India with modern defence capabilities, the UAV is classified as a Medium Altitude 15000 ft., Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV). The FWD 200B is equipped with optical payloads for surveillance and missile-like weapons for air strikes and bombing.
Successfully tested at a classified location, the FWD 200B’s first flight represents the fulfilment of India’s long-awaited dream of producing a combat UAV domestically.
Speaking at the event, Suhas Tejaskanda, Founder & CEO of FWDA, expressed, “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. The successful flight of the FWD 200B is not just an achievement for our company, 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,” he added.
The aircrafts aerodynamics design, airframe, propulsion systems, controls systems, electronics are all made in India at FWDA’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility of 12,000 sq. ft. built on 1.5 acre land, located at Electronic City, Bengaluru.
According to the information, FWD 200B features a wingspan of 5 metres (16.4 feet) and a length of 3.5 meters (12.1 feet), making it compact yet powerful. Despite its size, the aircraft boasts an impressive Maximum Take-off Weight (MTOW) of 102 kg and can carry a payload capacity of 30 kg, making it capable of conducting significant missions with precision.
Operating at a cruise altitude of 12,000 feet and reaching an absolute ceiling of 15,000 feet, the FWD 200B can fly at a cruise speed of 152 km/h, with a maximum speed of 250 km/h. Its operational versatility is further highlighted by its runway requirement of just 300 metres, allowing it to operate from shorter airstrips.
With an endurance of 7 hours and a range of 800 km, the FWD 200B ensures extended mission capabilities, providing substantial coverage without the need for frequent refueling or landing.
Taking a leap in India’s defence technologies, the unmanned bomber aircraft FWD 200B is pegged to be nation’s eagle eye. It is a demonstration to India’s capability to produce world-class defence technology and marks the beginning of a new era of indigenous military technology.
Few months back on May 3, 2024, Flying Wedge Defence and Aerospace (FWDA) had unveiled the FWD-200B, India’s first indigenous bomber unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The unveiling was met with mixed emotions and scepticism, with some questioning whether this drone could even take flight, doubting its aerodynamic design and the intentions behind its introduction.
However, defying all speculations, the company successfully proved its capabilities as the FWD-200B took its maiden flight. The FWD-200B fulfils India’s long-awaited dream of producing a combat UAV indigenously, following years of unsuccessful attempts by agencies like DRDO.
The company also plans to launch a 12 metre wingspan aircraft soon.
Flying Wedge Defence and Aerospace is India’s first unmanned aerial vehicle and component manufacturing company based in Bengaluru. Incorporated in the year 2022 by Suhas Tejaskanda, with the core objective to minimise India’s expensive drone imports from other countries and promote the concept of Make in India, the company aims to make India the global hub of drones and to empower the Indian Defence Air Forces.
Along with patented killer drones and bomber unmanned aircraft in the defence sector, the company has also achieved proficiency in AI-ML embedded drones with analytics in the Agricultural sector. Adding another feather to its cap, the company has become India’s first firm to secure a Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) type certification for indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology.
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