Combined Air Teaming System (CATS)

Why in news?

• HAL has started work on an ambitious project called CATS that will allow teaming up of unmanned aircraft and vehicles with manned jets.

About the project:

• Combined Air Teaming System or CATS will have a mother vehicle -- a fighter jet operating 700km away and strike enemy targets through unmanned warriors.
• The fighter jets guiding the unmanned drones can remain 150km behind and control and give directions to four unmanned vehicles called the CATS Warriors.
• The drones are expected to be integrated on Tejas and Jaguar fighter jets.
• The first prototypes are expected to fly in the next three to four years. Capable of evading radar detection, its stealth capacities will make it even more potent.
• It is modeled on US project Skyborg,
• The project will help reduce battle casualties as the manned aircraft will operate within the boundary and the unmanned aircraft will enter the enemy zone and carry out strikes deep inside the enemy territory.
• It can straightway hit the target at a distance of 700 kilometres or can go to 350 kilometres and come back.

The Drones:

• Other than the unmanned combat vehicle, the main fighter aircraft will be integrated with armed drones -- CATS Hunter and CATS Alpha.
• CATS Alpha is a glider and will be able to carry four, eight, 16, or 24 swarm drones. Alpha can glide 50 to 100km into the enemy territory and carry out a swarm drone attack.
• Drones being unleashed in a bunch is a tactic called swarm drone technology. Not only are these drones light weighted and low cost, but the high-tech artificial intelligence enables these to be crucial in future warfare.
• Swarm drones can create havoc as it is part of deception warfare with radars or air defence systems often unable to pick up the multiple UAVs.

PRELIMS QUESTION

CATS project” recently in news is related to:
(a)Air to Air Missiles
(b)Combat drones
(c)Battle Tanks
(d)Frigate Ships

Answer to Prelims Question