India has moved a step closer to fielding its first indigenous stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicle after the Defence Procurement Board cleared the design and development of the Ghatak UCAV programme. Developed by DRDO's Aeronautical Development Establishment for the Indian Air Force, the Ghatak meaning "deadly" in Sanskrit is a jet-powered autonomous stealth platform that traces its lineage to the Autonomous Unmanned Research Aircraft programme disclosed in 2007, formally sanctioned by the government in 2016, and successfully flown for the first time in July 2022. It is powered by the domestically developed Dry Kaveri engine from the Gas Turbine Research Establishment. Its core mission is Suppression and Destruction of Enemy Air Defences — SEAD and DEAD operations, where it will autonomously detect, identify, track and destroy radar systems, missile batteries and command centres, tearing holes in enemy defensive networks before manned aircraft enter contested airspace. It is also being developed for Manned-Unmanned Teaming with the Tejas Mk2, functioning as a loyal wingman that can be sent into heavily defended zones to scout, engage targets or draw enemy fire.