Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace (FWDA) has announced the establishment of its first international manufacturing node in Portugal for its autonomous combat aircraft, Kaal Bhairava.
Described as India’s first AI-powered combat aircraft, Kaal Bhairava will be manufactured through a partnership with SKETCHPIXEL LDA, a European technology company known for developing advanced fighter jet simulation systems for aircraft such as the F-16.
FWDA said the Portugal facility will become the first overseas production node for an Indian-designed autonomous combat aircraft under its long-term global expansion initiative, Operation 777.
Under the partnership, SKETCHPIXEL will contribute simulation technologies, AI integration, communication systems, and interoperability capabilities, while FWDA will retain intellectual property rights for the aircraft’s core autonomous systems and airframe design.
Operation 777, conceptualised by FWDA Founder and CEO Suhas Tejaskanda, was first unveiled during the launch of Kaal Bhairava in 2025. The initiative aims to build manufacturing, integration, and deployment partnerships for Indian-origin autonomous warfare systems across 7 continents and 77 countries.
“Operation 777 is about taking our systems beyond borders while building a globally distributed defence technology network originating from India,” said Tejaskanda.
He added that Portugal’s strategic access to the NATO ecosystem could help strengthen the company’s presence in European defence networks and support future global deployment opportunities.
Kaal Bhairava is a MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) autonomous combat aircraft with a range of 3,000 km and endurance of more than 30 hours. The platform includes AI-driven target recognition, swarm coordination capabilities, and encrypted communication systems.
FWDA said the project is part of its broader strategy to develop scalable and cost-efficient autonomous warfare and next-generation air defence technologies.
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