India's aviation behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is in advanced stages of developing the Combat Air Team System which will not only recce enemy positions but also target them accurately as well.Hindustan Aeronautics Limited CMD R Madhavan told Asianet Newsable, "It is a new concept and is in its initial phase. It will take another four years (for the first prototype)."Explaining the CATS, Group Captain HV Thakur (Retd), in-charge of CATS said, "It is based on the concept of a loyal wingman of teams which carry out the operations on the enemy. Once developed, it can replace an aircraft in the formation or be attached to LCA Tejas initially."
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The HAL has put the concept on display in the 13thedition of the Aero India 2021 which was inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday at the Yelahanka air force station in Bengaluru.The concepts on display included the CATS Warrior, Hunter and ALFA (Air Launched Flexible Asset).Gp Capt Thakur added that the concept will integrate several new-age technologies like machine learning and artificial intelligence."Once the system is developed, it will bring changes in aircraft training. The pilots will have to undergo a different sort of training," he said.
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Weighing about 1.5 tonnes, the Warrior is an Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle which will fly as a wingman and will pack lethal ammunition to neutralise the target.Being operated from a mothership, the Warrior will decrease the risk element as it will lead the manned formation, giving a live feed of the target area.The Warrior's compatibility has been set as per indigenous aircraft LCA Tejas.According to HAL, future systems could be integrated with frontline fighters like the Rafale and the Sukhoi.
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Like the Warrior, the CATS Hunter to also carry out attacks but will be of smaller size and weigh around 650kg.For operations, it will be launched from the Tejas fighter jet once the enemy target is within its reach. It will then fly on its own engine and drop the explosive and return back safely to base.
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The ALFA will have four drones packed within its frame, which once launched will fly on their own. The onboard camera will relay the enemy position and operate with the help of one of the drones connected with the aircraft it was released from or a base.Gp Capt Thakur described the CATS ALFA as a "swarm attack drone which will be dropped by the 'carrier' (Tejas fighter) after which it will descend lower and loiter around the enemy area and accomplish its task".The Tejas can carry around 5 such systems with 20 mini drones in total while an aircraft like Rafale and Sukhoi would be able to carry 40 such drones at a time.
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