Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace (FWDA), a deep tech defence company, has announced its first international manufacturing unit for its indigenous UAV, Kaalbhairav. The company will manufacture the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in partnership with Sketchpixel Lda, a Portugal-based aerospace and digital technology firm.
Operation 777 Expansion Plan
FWDA said the move is part of its ‘Operation 777’ strategy to expand its global presence. Under the plan, the company aims to establish seven global headquarters across 77 countries in the coming years.
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The Bengaluru-based firm said this is the first overseas production node for an autonomous combat aircraft designed in India. The company believes the partnership will help it enter European defence networks and create new collaboration opportunities.
Kaalbhairav UAV Capabilities
Kaalbhairav is an indigenous UAV designed for long-endurance missions. It supports precision airstrike operations as well as Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The UAV has a maximum takeoff weight of 150 kg and a wingspan of 4.4 metres. It can carry payloads of up to 30 kg and offers an endurance of 10 to 17 hours.
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In the ISR configuration, the platform has a maximum linear range of 1,500 km and an operational range of 150 km. It cruises at a speed of 50 m/s and can reach a maximum speed of 100 m/s.
AI and Defence Technology Collaboration
FWDA said Sketchpixel Lda will support the Kaalbhairav platform with simulation technologies, AI integration, communication systems and interoperability capabilities. FWDA Founder and CEO Suhas Tejaskanda said the partnership highlights growing global interest in Indian-designed autonomous warfare systems and indigenous defence technology.
