HAL conducted maiden flight of Unmanned Kiran aircraft

The HAL conducted maiden flight of Combat Air Teaming System-Optionally Manned Combat Aircraft (CATS-OMCA) or Unmanned Kiran aircraft.

The OMCA project involves transforming the set to retire Kiran Mk-II trainer, a long-serving workhorse of the IAF into a versatile combat platform. Designed to act as a decoy to draw out enemy defences, the Kiran Mk-II made UAV can also engage in secondary strike missions in contested airspace.

The aircraft will be capable of operating in both autonomous and ground-controlled modes, providing flexibility for various mission profiles. It will be showcased at Aero India 2025.