India First Indigenous MALE Drone Ready for Export

Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace (FWDA) has formally declared the operational readiness of Kaala Bhairav, the nation's first entirely homegrown, export-ready Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) autonomous combat drone, marking a significant milestone for India's defense industry. The news was made during a gathering at Bengaluru's The Lalit Ashok.

Kaala Bhairav, named for the mythological guardian of time, heralds a new era of independent aerospace innovation. The platform, which was completely designed, developed, and constructed in India, is one of the most capable unmanned systems in its class, with a range of 3,000 kilometers and an endurance of up to 30 hours.

After a test flight preview, FWDA announced that Kaala Bhairav has earned its first foreign order, a $25 million contract with a South Asian government as part of a wider strategic arrangement worth $30 million. This historic shipment demonstrates the rising demand for Indian-made defense platforms around the world and the nation's development as a reliable supplier of cutting-edge aerial warfare technologies.

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Suhas Tejaskanda, Founder and CEO of FWDA, emphasized the national security implications of relying on foreign systems. “For years, India has operated imported platforms like the Predator and Israeli Searcher, often at the cost of strategic control—from embedded kill switches to flight data routed via foreign networks. The current geopolitical climate makes digital dependence a serious vulnerability.”