Indian Navy Collaborates with NewSpace for Next-Gen Unmanned Combat Aircraft
In a groundbreaking move, the Indian Navy has selected Bengaluru-based startup NewSpace Research & Technologies (NRT) to develop an indigenous unmanned aerial platform, marking a major milestone in India’s defence innovation landscape.
This cutting-edge drone, known as the Naval Collaborative Combat Air Vehicle (N-CCAV), will serve as a loyal wingman to frontline fighters like the MiG-29K and the future Rafale-M. It will be based on NRT’s conceptual airframe named Abhimanyu, designed for joint operations with manned aircraft in high-stakes missions.
Backed by the Ministry of Defence’s iDEX initiative, the project is part of India's broader efforts to integrate startup innovations into military platforms. NRT secured the contract against multiple contenders, with guaranteed minimum procurement by the Navy once development reaches completion.
The Abhimanyu platform will feature a low radar cross-section, be lightweight, and include modular components to allow for roles ranging from surveillance and electronic warfare to offensive strike missions.
Compared to HAL’s CATS Warrior for the Indian Air Force, the Abhimanyu is a dedicated naval variant. While HAL’s Warrior awaits full IAF support, the Abhimanyu already has the Navy’s official endorsement, a clear signal of momentum.
This development mirrors global trends—particularly the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, which emphasizes unmanned-manned team operations.
The Abhimanyu’s design emphasizes modularity, affordability, and scalability. It will be produced in volume, making it both expendable and combat-ready for a variety of missions. Its real-time networked capability will allow it to act as a sensor, a shooter, and a command node—enabling rapid and adaptive mission planning.
Defence planners believe that drones like the Abhimanyu will enhance India’s combat readiness without replacing manned fighters. Instead, they serve as force multipliers, bridging operational gaps and enabling a smarter, more flexible response to peer threats like China.
A half-scale prototype of the Abhimanyu will be showcased at Aero India 2025, where the formal Navy-NewSpace agreement will be announced.
To visualize its role, imagine a tense standoff in the Indian Ocean Region. As Chinese forces approach India’s maritime boundaries, the Navy launches a strike group comprising MiG-29Ks and Abhimanyu drones from INS Vikrant.
The Abhimanyu drones fly ahead, using radar and jamming tools to detect threats, confuse enemy sensors, and create safe corridors for Indian fighters. One drone intercepts an enemy AEW&C plane before it can relay targeting data.
Later, as stealth fighters close in, Abhimanyus act as “missile trucks”, enabling MiGs to strike without running out of munitions. Some drones even perform sacrificial maneuvers to take down high-value enemy targets.
In a follow-up strike, a new wave of drones, equipped with precision-guided munitions, hits enemy naval vessels. Electronic warfare payloads disrupt radar systems, making the enemy’s air defense ineffective.
These imagined scenarios highlight the role unmanned systems can play in reducing risk to pilots, enhancing decision-making, and overwhelming enemy forces through coordinated AI-powered tactics.
The Navy’s agreement with NRT could shape future procurement and R&D decisions, especially regarding cost-efficiency, technological adaptability, and integration of private players into military ecosystems.
Officials involved in the deal suggest that combining urgency with focused technological investment is key to delivering future-ready systems like Abhimanyu and Warrior.
Above all, the partnership represents India’s push toward self-reliant military technologies. The Abhimanyu project symbolizes a new era—where local startups contribute meaningfully to national defence, innovation meets strategy, and unmanned systems secure India’s future in modern warfare.
Written by Defence Expert
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