Defence — Shakti UCAV
Programme Milestones
Key achievements in the Shakti UCAV development and production programme.
Defence — Shakti UCAV
Key achievements in the Shakti UCAV development and production programme.
The Shakti programme has progressed through development and into production on schedule, with several milestones representing firsts for Indian aerospace.
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| March 2015 | Programme Launch — DRDO CATV project initiated |
| January 2019 | Transfer to IndoFighter Corporation as prime contractor |
| November 2021 | Demonstrator first flight at Aeronautical Test Range, Chitradurga |
| April 2022 | Supersonic flight achieved (Mach 1.12) — first Indian UCAV to exceed Mach 1 |
| September 2023 | Weapons separation test — SAAW precision bomb released in trial |
| February 2024 | Manned-unmanned teaming trial with Vajra Mk1 — first in India |
| August 2024 | Low-Rate Initial Production contract signed for 12 aircraft |
| 2026 (planned) | Initial Operational Clearance — IAF No. 80 Squadron |