New Delhi, July 25, 2025 — In a landmark revelation that sets the tone for India’s future in aerial warfare, the chief designer of the LCA Tejas has confirmed that the country’s 6th-generation unmanned fighter jet design is complete.
This next-gen fighter, which will be fully autonomous, marks a major shift in India’s strategic air capabilities, ushering in a new era of AI-driven, stealth-enabled, unmanned combat aircraft (UCAVs).
“We’ve completed the conceptual and design phase. The sixth-generation unmanned fighter will combine deep stealth, intelligent mission autonomy, and next-level situational awareness,” the chief designer told Allycaral during a closed-door defence technology summit in Bengaluru.
Key Features of India’s 6th-Gen UCAV:
- Stealth Technology: Advanced low-observable materials and design for radar evasion.
- Artificial Intelligence: Real-time decision-making and threat neutralization.
- Swarm Capability: Can operate in coordination with other unmanned and manned aircraft.
- Hypersonic Compatibility: Possibility of integrating hypersonic propulsion systems.
- Indigenous Innovation: Built under the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India.
India Joins the Elite Club
Only a handful of countries — including the US, China, and Russia — are actively pursuing sixth-generation fighter technologies. With this announcement, India becomes part of a very elite global race, and the unmanned nature of its project puts it in a distinctive niche.
Timeline & Development Partners
While the aircraft is still years from production and deployment, HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited), DRDO, and private aerospace firms are expected to collaborate on building prototypes by 2027.
This development comes at a time when the Indian Air Force is aggressively modernising its fleet and investing in cutting-edge aerospace programs to counter evolving regional threats.
