Bengaluru-headquartered Flying Wedge Defence and Aerospace (FWDA) has successfully conducted the maiden flight of its indigenously developed unmanned bomber aircraft, the FWD 200B.
This Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV is capable of both surveillance and air strikes, equipped with optical payloads and missile-like weapons, according to FWDA Founder and CEO Suhas Tejaskanda.
A testament to Indian engineering prowess, the FWD 200B's design, airframe, propulsion, controls, and electronics were all developed in-house at FWDA's state-of-the-art Bengaluru facility. The UAV boasts a wingspan of five meters, a length of 3.5 meters, and a maximum take-off weight of 102 kg, allowing it to carry a 30 kg payload.
With a range of 800 km and an endurance of seven hours, the FWD 200B offers extended mission capabilities. It has a cruise speed of 152 km/h and can reach a maximum speed of 250 km/h. Its short runway requirement of 300 meters enables operations from smaller airstrips.
FWDA is positioning the FWD 200B as a cost-effective alternative to imported military technology, highlighting the potential for significant savings compared to procuring similar systems from countries like the US and Israel.
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