India is turning its old Kiran MkII training jet into a flying control center for the new CATS Warrior combat drone.
This is part of a big step by HAL to boost India’s defence strength with advanced unmanned aircraft made in the country.
India’s Kiran Jet Reborn as Warrior Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle Command Platform
In a big step forward for India’s unmanned combat aircraft program, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is converting the old Kiran MkII jet trainer into a “mothership” to control the upcoming CATS Warrior drone.
The Kiran MkII, which was once widely used to train Indian Air Force pilots, is now being transformed into a flying control center for the CATS Warrior Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV).
This modified Kiran will be used to test how well the mothership can link and coordinate with the CATS Warrior drone.
The aircraft already had its first successful flight on January 27, 2025, and its second flight is expected in early 2026.
These tests are part of HAL’s larger Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) program, which focuses on manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T), where human pilots and drones work together in missions.
The project also supports the Indian government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) push for indigenous defence development.
The Kiran MkII was originally built in the 1970s as a two-seater jet trainer, and HAL stopped making it in 1989.
Now, HAL is repurposing the aircraft to serve as an Optionally Manned Combat Aircraft (OMCA).
That means it can either be flown by a pilot or controlled remotely. The second cockpit, which was earlier meant for a trainer pilot, is being equipped with advanced technology to control the CATS Warrior drone.
These upgrades include secure communication systems, artificial intelligence (AI)-based mission software, and advanced computers developed by HAL’s Saraswathi Radar Development Centre (SLDRC) and DRDO’s Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR).
The updated Kiran, now called the CATS-OMCA or Unmanned Kiran, will be able to fly in both autopilot and remote-controlled modes.
In early test flights, a pilot will be onboard, but control will later be handed over to a remote ground station.
This setup will allow HAL to test functions like reconnaissance, precision strikes, and electronic warfare, which are the key roles planned for the CATS Warrior.
The second test flight in early 2026 will specifically focus on checking how well the Kiran mothership and the CATS Warrior drone can communicate and coordinate in real-time using secure data links.
This is a critical part of making sure both aircraft can work smoothly together in future missions. The CATS Warrior drone is expected to make its first flight in late 2026.
It had a successful engine ground test in January 2025, and taxi trials (where the aircraft moves on the ground under its own power) are planned soon after the Aero India 2025 event.
To make the Warrior drone more powerful, HAL is also working with Rolls-Royce to develop a new engine that can produce more than 3.4 kN of thrust per engine—enough to carry heavier payloads and advanced systems.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is speeding up the development of its advanced drone systems in a smart and cost-effective way by using the old and reliable Kiran jet as a test platform.
This initiative not only reduces the time that is needed to test and deploy the CATS Warrior but also reflects India’s growing capability in building modern defence technologies on its own.
