India’s defense industry is making significant international waves, with the indigenous Kaal Bhairav drone earning a silver medal at the 23rd International Exhibition of Innovations 2025 in Zagreb, Croatia. This accolade places India’s ‘Made in India’ defense technology on par with global leaders and signifies its growing influence in advanced military capabilities. The Kaal Bhairav E2A2, a state-of-the-art AI-powered combat drone, represents a pivotal moment for India’s technological advancement in defense. This Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) autonomous aircraft is a product of Indian innovation, fully developed and manufactured by Flying Wedge Defense and Aerospace. Key performance metrics highlight its advanced nature: a 30-hour flight endurance and a 3,000 km operational range. The drone’s AI capabilities enable sophisticated autonomous functions, including mission planning, precise targeting, and the execution of coordinated swarm tactics. Its design prioritizes resilience and adaptability, featuring a smart sensor suite for highly accurate, multi-directional strikes and robust protection against signal jamming, ensuring mission continuity. The modular structure enhances its utility across various defense applications, such as offensive operations, electronic warfare, extensive maritime surveillance, and battlefield intelligence dissemination. Crucially, the Kaal Bhairav offers India a domestically produced, significantly more affordable alternative to expensive imported drones, bolstering national security and technological independence. The Croatian award is a testament to India’s burgeoning role as a defense technology powerhouse.
