The Indian Army’s Western Command achieved a major breakthrough on December 19, 2025, with the successful trial of the indigenous Kharga Chakra fixed-wing drone at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan. Tested by the Kharga Corps’ artillery division under Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar’s observation, the 100-km range UAV demonstrated resilience against electronic warfare through AI-driven mission control, inertial navigation, frequency-hopping communications, and anti-jamming features. Developed via collaboration between Chennai-based startups and Army engineers, this milestone bolsters India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, enhancing surveillance, reconnaissance, and logistics amid lessons from Operation Sindoor and global conflicts.