- Kaal Bhairava, India's AI combat aircraft, to be made in Portugal.
- FWDA and SKETCHPIXEL collaborate for advanced autonomous systems.
- Partnership enhances India's defence export potential globally.
In a significant step for the global expansion of the 'Make in India' initiative, India's first AI combat aircraft, 'Kaal Bhairava', will now be manufactured in Portugal.
The Indian AI warfare company FWDA on Thursday announced that it will develop the Kaal Bhairava in collaboration with SKETCHPIXEL, a European company known for manufacturing state-of-the-art simulation systems for fighter aircraft such as the F-16.
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FWDA And SKETCHPIXEL Join Hands For Kaal Bhairava
As a part of the agreement, SKETCHPIXEL will provide simulation technologies, AI integration, communication systems, and interoperability capabilities for the platform.
Meanwhile, FWDA will retain intellectual property rights over the core autonomous systems and the airframe design, Times of India reported.
Everything About India's First Combat Aircraft 'Kaal Bhairava'
- The Kaal Bhairava is a medium-altitude, long-endurance autonomous combat aircraft engineered for high-stakes missions, with a range of 3,000 km and an endurance of over 30 hours.
- The platform is equipped with advanced AI-based target recognition, swarm coordination capabilities, and encrypted communication systems.
- Unlike traditional aerospace models centred on high-cost platforms, the FWDA is focusing on autonomous air power, swarm systems, and the development of a next-generation air defence ecosystem.
'Position India Among World's Largest Defence Exporters': CEO of FWDA
Suhas Tejaskanda, founder and CEO of FWDA, said, "This collaboration reflects growing international interest in Indian-designed autonomous systems and demonstrates the potential for Indian warfare technologies to participate in global manufacturing ecosystems. Portugal's strategic location and access to the NATO ecosystem will further our access to European defence networks, collaborative opportunities and global deployment pathways. The larger vision is to help position India among the world's top defence exporters," he added.
What Did CEO Of SKETCHPIXEL Say?
Miguel Abrue, CEO of SKETCHPIXEL, said that this collaboration will bring together FWDA's deep engineering, cutting-edge electronics, and AI chip analysis with KEYDEF's expertise in simulation and military integration.
"From the structural design, board design, and construction, firmware development, communications, control, and validation are performed under complete control, ensuring maximum standards of safety, resilience, and technological sovereignty. The new communication systems, LVC interoperability, and AI modules will be coded together in KEYDEF's laboratories in Portugal and FWD's in India. The key to this development is a regular exchange of teams and knowledge. We will start with the FWD Kaal Bhairava project for Portugal and NATO countries," TOI quoted Abrue as saying.
Kaal Bhairava To Be A Game Changer
This partnership is expected to significantly enhance India's defence export potential while firmly establishing indigenous AI technology on the global stage. Ultimately, Kaal Bhairava could emerge as a game-changer for autonomous air power on the future battlefield.