Source : Indian Defence Updates (IDU)
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| ALFA-S Swarm Drones launched from Tejas Mk-1A (CGI by ©Harshal Pal) |
Hindustan Aeronautics and NewSpace Research and Technologies will start development trials of the Alpha-S Air Launched Swarming Drone system in 2023 that will have the capability to penetrate contested airspace and take out vital ground-based targets and they will be equipped with an infrared seeker that will enable it to target multiple aerial targets like Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drones and helicopters.
The Alpha-S will not remain exclusive to the Tejas max mother ship and will be deployed from other fighter jets, attack helicopters and even transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force.
Under the India-US Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI), ALFA-S is the first joint project between Newspace Research & Technologies, HAL and the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). HAL will also help in the designing of CATS ALFA carrier platform that will air launch ALFA-S loitering munition. The first prototype of ALFA-S will be deployed on BAE Hawk 132 Advanced Jet Trainers.
