The National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) has marked a crucial advancement in India’s Futuristic Unmanned Fighter Aircraft (FUFA) program by completing hinge moment calibration and wind tunnel model evaluations, a development announced on August 2, 2025. These precision tests, vital for refining control surfaces and achieving agile flight, position FUFA as a cutting-edge 5.5-generation unmanned combat aerial vehicle designed to operate alongside manned Indian Air Force (IAF) assets. With its first flight envisioned for 2028 and induction targeted for 2035, the FUFA aims to conduct a range of tactical missions, such as suppression of enemy air defenses and electronic warfare. This milestone arrives amid a broader modernization drive, with India concurrently advancing the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and related unmanned systems, to counter regional threats and strengthen airpower. The wind tunnel tests underscore India’s commitment to indigenous aerospace innovation, placing the nation in step with global leaders like the U.S. and China in the rapidly evolving domain of semi-autonomous air combat systems.