Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace (FWDA), an Indian AI warfare company, on Thursday announced the establishment of its first international manufacturing node in Portugal for its flagship autonomous combat aircraft, Kaal Bhairava. Positioned as India’s first AI-powered combat aircraft, Kaal Bhairava will be manufactured in Portugal through a partnership with SKETCHPIXEL LDA, a European technology firm known for developing advanced fighter jet simulation systems for aircraft including the F-16. The company described the facility as the first overseas production node for an Indian-designed autonomous combat aircraft. Under the agreement, SKETCHPIXEL will provide simulation technologies, AI integration, communications systems, and interoperability capabilities for the platform, while FWDA will retain intellectual property rights over the aircraft’s core autonomous systems and airframe design. The Portugal facility will serve as the first international node under Operation 777, a long-term strategic initiative conceptualised by Suhas Tejaskanda, Founder and CEO of FWDA. First unveiled during the launch of the Kaal Bhairava platform in 2025, the initiative aims to establish manufacturing, integration, and deployment partnerships for Indian-origin autonomous warfare systems across seven continents and 77 countries. Speaking about the collaboration, Tejaskanda said the partnership reflects growing international interest in Indian-designed autonomous warfare systems and highlights the potential of Indian defence technologies in global manufacturing ecosystems. “Operation 777 is about taking our systems beyond borders while building a globally distributed defence technology network originating from India,” he said. He added that Portugal’s strategic location and access to the NATO ecosystem would strengthen the company’s entry into European defence networks, collaborative opportunities, and global deployment pathways. “The larger vision is to help position India among the world’s leading defence exporters,” he said. Kaal Bhairava is a MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) autonomous combat aircraft with a range of 3,000 km and endurance exceeding 30 hours. The platform features AI-driven target recognition, swarm coordination capabilities, and encrypted communication systems. The aircraft is part of FWDA’s broader strategy to develop scalable and cost-efficient autonomous warfare technologies. The company said it is focused on building an ecosystem centred on autonomous airpower, swarm systems, and next-generation air defence solutions, in line with the global shift toward scalable and lower-cost warfare systems. With the Portugal partnership becoming the first overseas node under Operation 777, FWDA plans to expand its aerospace and defence collaborations across strategic global regions in the coming years.