In a landmark milestone for India’s defence innovation, the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) have successfully demonstrated advanced “manned-unmanned teaming” (MUM-T) technology during a complex simulated maritime strike exercise off the Konkan coast. The test represents a significant leap toward a future in which Indian air combat seamlessly integrates piloted and autonomous aircraft into a single, networked force capable of dominating multiple domains.
The exercise, conducted over the Arabian Sea near the strategic naval hubs of Goa and Karwar, was a culmination of months of joint preparation by the IAF, DRDO, and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). To ensure operational integrity and safety, a Notice to Mariners (NOTMAR) was issued, establishing a temporary exclusion zone over the designated test area.
A single HAL Tejas light combat aircraft—piloted by an IAF officer—was linked in real time to two DRDO-developed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The trio conducted a simulated strike mission against mock enemy maritime targets, operating under realistic electronic and tactical conditions. Upon completion, all aircraft returned safely to INS Hansa at Dabolim, Goa, validating the robustness of India’s new manned-unmanned control and recovery protocols.
This exercise, officials confirmed, was not a one-off demonstration but part of a broader effort to operationalize a MUM-T ecosystem within the IAF. It marks the first successful demonstration of such a capability in the Indian context—one that mirrors ongoing global trends among advanced air forces such as the U.S. Air Force’s Skyborg and Australia’s Loyal Wingman projects.
The mission began with the Tejas establishing secure, encrypted data links with the two UAVs. Functioning as “loyal wingmen,” the unmanned platforms deployed a suite of electro-optical, infrared, and radar sensors to scan the simulated battlespace for hostile surface combatants.
This sensor data was relayed instantaneously to the Tejas, which served as the mission’s “neural hub.” The pilot used the aircraft’s indigenous Uttam Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar to process and fuse the incoming feeds into a unified tactical picture. This fusion allowed for rapid target identification, threat prioritization, and engagement planning—without exposing the manned fighter to direct enemy fire.
According to a senior IAF official, “The MUM-T framework allows us to expand our eyes and ears across the battlespace without multiplying risk. A single Tejas can now coordinate with multiple UAVs to conduct reconnaissance, targeting, and strike operations as one synchronized entity.”
This “sensor-to-shooter” model—where data flows seamlessly from detection to decision-making to engagement—is a defining element of next-generation air warfare. It drastically compresses the time between detection and response while improving accuracy through AI-driven automation.
The most remarkable phase of the test came during the simulated strike sequence. After the Tejas identified and designated the mock targets, the pilot transferred strike authority to the UAVs. From that point, the drones operated autonomously under the guidance of DRDO’s Autonomous Control System (ACS).
Using AI-based mission algorithms, the UAVs independently calculated approach vectors, navigated through simulated electronic jamming, and executed precision attack profiles—all while maintaining constant communication with the Tejas.
Although no live munitions were used, the exercise successfully replicated a full “kill chain” cycle—from target detection and tracking to simulated engagement and battle damage assessment.
“This is where artificial intelligence truly changes the character of air warfare,” said a DRDO scientist involved in the project. “The UAVs didn’t just follow pre-set commands—they adapted to dynamic threats, recalculated routes, and coordinated with the manned aircraft in real time.”
The demonstration underscores India’s progress in developing indigenous AI-enabled autonomy, an area previously dominated by Western and Chinese defence programs. By enabling unmanned systems to function semi-independently under human oversight, the IAF moves closer to achieving human-machine teaming—a hallmark of sixth-generation combat.
MUM-T technology offers substantial operational advantages. It effectively multiplies combat power without requiring proportional increases in pilots or manned aircraft.
Unmanned systems can serve as decoys, scouts, or strike platforms, allowing manned fighters like the Tejas to remain outside hostile air defence zones. The loss of a UAV, unlike that of a pilot or manned platform, does not carry the same strategic or emotional cost—making high-risk missions more feasible.
According to preliminary IAF-DRDO analyses, manned-unmanned operations could enhance mission tempo by up to 40% and improve survivability rates by leveraging “distributed lethality.” In this model, multiple nodes (manned and unmanned) share data and targets, ensuring that the mission continues even if one asset is neutralized.
The UAVs used in this exercise evolved from DRDO’s TAPAS-BH (Tactical Airborne Platform for Aerial Surveillance – Beyond Horizon) program, a medium-altitude long-endurance drone primarily designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. The modified variant demonstrated during the MUM-T test incorporated autonomous decision-making, modular payload integration, and secure high-bandwidth data-sharing systems.
The timing of the MUM-T test was deliberate—it coincided with broader multi-service exercises such as Exercise Konkan 2025, a bilateral naval drill with the United Kingdom, and Exercise Trishul, a tri-service wargame focused on maritime joint operations.
By aligning the test within this framework, India emphasized the increasing convergence of air, sea, and cyber domains in modern warfare. The integration of UAVs with manned fighters in a naval context also demonstrated the growing emphasis on joint-force interoperability—a capability essential for deterrence and rapid response in the Indo-Pacific region.
Naval analysts observed that networked MUM-T systems could play a crucial role in anti-ship warfare, long-range maritime surveillance, and area denial operations, especially in congested waters where adversary presence is rising.
Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh described the test as a “defining moment in India’s transition toward network-centric warfare.” He noted that integrating AI, autonomous systems, and real-time data fusion will be key to the IAF’s modernization strategy through the 2030s.
“These technologies ensure that Indian pilots operate at the center of a web of intelligent systems,” he said. “The future battlespace will not be defined by the number of aircraft, but by the quality and speed of information exchange between them.”
Analysts see this milestone as a foundational step toward India’s sixth-generation air combat ecosystem. Under this vision, platforms like the Tejas Mk1A and the forthcoming Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) will command loyal wingman drones—capable of independent reconnaissance, suppression of enemy air defences, and precision strike missions.
The DRDO-IAF roadmap envisions progressively larger trials involving multiple manned aircraft and drone swarms. Live-fire weapon trials, electronic warfare testing, and integration with AWACS and satellite networks are planned for 2026.
The long-term goal is to develop an Integrated MUM-T Command Suite that can link various platforms—including Tejas, Su-30MKI, and AMCA—with drones operating under a unified tactical cloud. Once operational, this would enable India to execute highly coordinated missions across vast distances with minimal communication latency.
The successful Tejas-led MUM-T trial is also a resounding endorsement of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative. Every key component—from data links and AI algorithms to radar and mission systems—was indigenously developed or adapted through domestic research programs.
In a region where rapid technological evolution defines strategic advantage, this achievement elevates India’s standing among nations pursuing autonomous air combat integration. With further refinements, the IAF’s MUM-T ecosystem could soon rival programs such as the U.S. Skyborg, the U.K.-Japan GCAP loyal wingman, and China’s Feihong unmanned strike series.
