HAL loyal wingman aircraft conducts first engine ground test

HAL initiated the engine ground testing of its CATS Warrior loyal wingman unmanned platform on 11 January 2025. (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited)

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has conducted the first engine ground test of its Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) Warrior ‘loyal wingman' unmanned platform.

According to HAL, the test was conducted on 11 January at its Bangalore facility, using a full-scale demonstrator. The state-owned company has previously told Janes that the Warrior is a twin-engine unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), capable of autonomous operations.

The platform is being developed to operate alongside manned fighter aircraft, and will have the ability to attack both aerial and ground targets, HAL has said.

An HAL source told Janes on 13 January that the initial test on 11 January lasted for about 15 minutes. The CATS Warrior is powered by HAL's new Pilotless Target Aircraft Engine-W (PTAE-W) turbojet engine, according to the source.

A product of HAL's Aero Engine Research and Design Centre (AERDC), the PTAE-W is an enhancement of HAL's earlier PTAE-7 engine, according to the source. Janes has previously reported that the PTAE-7 is a 3.43 kN (771 lbf) single-spool turbojet developed in the 1980s.

The 11 January test was the first of a series of ground-based evaluations of the platform that are part of a “continuous process” being conducted “as per military airworthiness standards”, a second HAL source, with knowledge of the programme, told Janes on 13 January.

While neither source commented on the power rating of the PTAE-W, the first source said that the engine has conducted a 30-minute flight test using a target drone. According to the source, the engine is currently being uprated for greater performance and endurance.