A startup associated with the Indian Institute of Technology Jammu is developing a jet-powered unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) named SkyReaper. It is aimed at high-altitude and long-range operations in contested environments. According to engineers working on the project, the drone is being developed by MachFly Aerospace, a startup linked with IIT Jammu under its startup and innovation ecosystem.
The developers said the platform is designed for surveillance, reconnaissance and combat missions, marking a shift from conventional UAV models focused mainly on observation.
The drone developed by IIT Jammu students evades detection by ditching traditional radio frequencies. It uses advanced carbon composites and optical fibre-based communication, making it virtually invisible to radar.
"This means no tell-tale radio frequency signature, no detection - just silent, effective surveillance," Taran Sharas, who led the team of young researchers behind the drone, told NDTV.
It uses low-noise propellers for acoustic stealth, a carbon and plastic body to reduce radar cross-section, and vision-based Artificial Intelligence for GPS-independent, pre-programmed navigation. At high altitudes, the new drone will remain beyond the range of human sight and most ground-based sensors.
The development of the new drone comes a year after India launched Operation Sindoor against Pakistani terror camps in May 2025 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in April that year.
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