India’s AI-powered autonomous combat aircraft Kaal Bhairava will now be manufactured in Portugal, marking a major milestone in defence exports and advanced military technology collaboration.

BulletsIn

• India’s autonomous combat aircraft Kaal Bhairava will be manufactured in Portugal under a strategic international defence manufacturing initiative called Operation 777.
• The aircraft is being developed by Flying Wedge Defence and Aerospace and represents India’s first overseas production programme for an AI-powered combat platform.
• Kaal Bhairava is a Medium Altitude Long Endurance autonomous aircraft designed for surveillance, intelligence gathering, target tracking, and precision combat operations.
• The aircraft reportedly features around 3000 kilometre operational range, over 30 hours endurance, AI-based targeting systems, and encrypted communication capabilities.
• Portugal-based company SKETCHPIXEL LDA will support simulation systems, artificial intelligence integration, and advanced communication technologies for the defence project.
• Operation 777 was launched in 2025 to expand Indian defence manufacturing partnerships across 7 continents and strengthen global military technology collaboration.
• The Portugal manufacturing hub is expected to improve India’s access to European and NATO-linked defence ecosystems and international aerospace partnerships.
• The project highlights India’s growing ambitions in autonomous warfare systems, defence exports, and next-generation military technology development on the global stage.