---
title: "India’s UCAV To Fly In 2015, Says DRDO. High Hopes?"
url: https://www.livefistdefence.com/indias-ucav-to-fly-in-2015-says-drdo/
date: 2012-04-22
modified: 2016-05-17
lang: en
author: "Team Livefist"
description: "Artist's impression / Anurag Rana India's concept AURA stealth UCAV could complete prototyping by end 2013, make its first flight in 2015 and enter service in 2017, a senior DRDO..."
categories:
  - "Aircraft And Helicopters"
  - "DRDO"
  - "Indigenous Equipment"
  - "Newspaper Report"
  - "UAV"
  - "Uncategorized"
image: https://www.livefistdefence.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/LF_AURA_2.jpg
word_count: 199
---

# India’s UCAV To Fly In 2015, Says DRDO. High Hopes?

| [![](https://www.livefistdefence.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/LF_AURA_2.jpg)](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SIEn0gm3Ros/T2m4ftHtVJI/AAAAAAAAPCk/kUeQLBRgToI/s1600/LF_AURA_2.jpg) |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Artist's impression / Anurag Rana** |

India's concept **AURA **stealth UCAV could complete prototyping by end 2013, make its first flight in 2015 and enter service in 2017, a senior DRDO scientist [has told *The Indian Express*](http://www.indianexpress.com/news/DIAT-to-provide-eyes-and-ears-for-country-s-first-armed-war-bird/939976/). Now, either that's a pang of breathtaking optimism, or the DRDO is actually working it. To put it gently, timelines have *never *been the DRDO's strongest suit, and the target indicated suggests that the AURA (officially only called Unmanned Strike Air Vehicle - [USAV](https://www.livefistdefence.com/revealed-possibly-for-first-time-here/), and f[irst revealed here](https://www.livefistdefence.com/aura-indias-ucav-programme/) on **Livefist**) will fly well before India's [Tejas Mk.2 and AMCA ](https://www.livefistdefence.com/aero-india-lca-navy-mk2-amca-shapes/)manned fighter jets. To be sure, [very little is actually known](https://www.livefistdefence.com/indias-ucav-to-be-neuron-clone/) about the AURA/USAV apart from the fact that it is being developed as a [flying-wing stealth design](https://www.livefistdefence.com/uav-india-part-1-first-ever-impressions/), and is [expected to be powered by](https://www.livefistdefence.com/its-official-kaveri-will-power-indias/) a modified version of the Snecma/Kaveri turbofan engine. Most current circumstances indicate that it is highly unlikely that a 2015 first flight is possible, though the secret nature of the programme may just suggest things we don't know yet. I'll say this: I'd be the happiest person on earth if I get to eat my words, but I won't be holding my breath just yet.

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