Watch: First Flight Of India’s Stealth Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator Carried Out Successfully

In a critical step towards the development of a stealth combat drone, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully carried out the first flight of the Stealth Wing Flying Testbed’ (SWiFT).

“Operating in a fully autonomous mode, the aircraft exhibited a perfect flight, including take-off, way point navigation and a smooth touchdown,' the DRDO said after the SWiFT's first flight.

"This flight marks a major milestone in terms of proving critical technologies towards the development of future unmanned aircraft and is significant step towards self-reliance in such strategic defence technologies," the agency added in its statement.

Last year, reports said that the Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment, a Chennai-based lab of the DRDO, has handed over retractable landing gear systems for SWiFT.

"SWiFT UAV is a Technology Demonstrator and is a scaled-down version of Ghatak UCAV (Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle). The main intent of SWiFT UAV is to demonstrate and prove the stealth technology and high-speed landing technology in autonomous mode," the DRDO has said.

Also Read: Maiden Flight Test Of India’s Stealth Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator Carried Out Successfully