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The Indian Navy has partnered with Bengaluru-based NewSpace Research & Technologies (NRT) to develop the Naval Collaborative Combat Air Vehicle (N-CCAV), a jet-powered drone named Abhimanyu.<\/p>\n
Designed as a loyal wingman, Abhimanyu is set to operate alongside India\u2019s MiG fighter jets and future Rafale-Ms. The latest model of the drone is currently on display at the Aero India 2025 exhibition in Bengaluru.<\/p>\n
The Abhimanyu project is partially funded by the Indian Ministry of Defense\u2019s Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative and internal company funding.<\/p>\n
iDEX, launched in 2018, has been hosting Acing Development of Innovative Technologies (ADITI) challenges, one of which focused on the Navy\u2019s N-CCAV requirements.<\/p>\n
Per reports, the Indian Navy plans a fleet of Abhimanyu drones, each with different capabilities. These drones will enhance situational awareness, extend sensor reach, and provide tactical flexibility for carrier-based operations.<\/p>\n
They could also be deployed onshore for additional support in naval missions.<\/p>\n
The Abhimanyu drone is designed for stealth and high-speed operations. While not a fully stealth aircraft, it incorporates several features to reduce radar detection, such as:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Swept wings, horizontal stabilizers, and a single vertical tail.<\/li>\n
- Narrow air intakes positioned along the rear fuselage.<\/li>\n
- A continuous chine-line wrapping around the fuselage to minimise radar reflections.<\/li>\n
- Trapezoidal main landing gear doors, commonly seen in stealth aircraft.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
NewSpace has integrated AI and machine learning (AI\/ML) technology into the drone, leveraging its previous work in drone swarming technologies.<\/p>\n
The company also showcased Sheshnaag, a new line of smaller kamikaze drones with swarming capabilities, at the same exhibition.<\/p>\n
Placards at the exhibition revealed the Abhimanyu\u2019s performance specifications:
\nTop Speed: 300 knots (550 km\/h)
\nOperational Range: 1,000 km
\nService Ceiling: 6,000 meters (19,700 feet)<\/p>\nWhile the figures suggest that Abhimanyu is slower and shorter-range than some existing loyal wingman drones, experts say that such drones can still provide valuable tactical advantages in planned operations.<\/p>\n
The Abhimanyu is designed to support a variety of missions, including:<\/p>\n
- \n
- \nIntelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR):<\/em> Equipped with advanced sensors for real-time battlefield awareness.<\/li>\n
- \nElectronic Warfare (EW):<\/em> Capable of jamming enemy radars and sensors, helping strike missions.<\/li>\n
- \nStrike Missions:<\/em> Armed with precision-guided weapons to neutralise naval or land-based threats.<\/li>\n
- \nMissile Carrier:<\/em> Can carry extra air-to-air missiles for MiG-29Ks, increasing the strike capacity of manned fighters.<\/li>\n
- \nDecoy Operations:<\/em> Can mimic the radar signature of manned jets to mislead enemy defences.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUMT) With Indian Navy Fighters<\/strong><\/p>\n
It is designed to integrate with manned fighter jets using advanced MUMT (Manned-Unmanned Teaming) technology. This allows the drone to fly ahead of fighter jets, use its sensors to detect threats and share intelligence in real-time.<\/p>\n
By working in coordination with manned aircraft, the drone extends the operational reach of the Indian Navy\u2019s carrier strike groups. Per reports, NewSpace Research & Technologies is developing the N-CCAV to be cost-effective and rapidly producible.<\/p>\n
A document reviewed by defence analysts suggests that the drone is designed to be expendable. Similar to the U.S. Navy\u2019s \u201cconsumable\u201d CCA drone concept, the Abhimanyu may have a shorter operational lifespan but offer flexibility in large-scale deployments.<\/p>\n
The Abhimanyu is much smaller than the HAL Warrior, a twin-engine drone being developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force\u2019s Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) program.<\/p>\n
HAL Warrior has a max takeoff weight of 1,300 kg, a top speed of 850 km\/h, a range of 800 km, and an endurance of 80 minutes.<\/p>\n
- \nElectronic Warfare (EW):<\/em> Capable of jamming enemy radars and sensors, helping strike missions.<\/li>\n
- \nIntelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR):<\/em> Equipped with advanced sensors for real-time battlefield awareness.<\/li>\n