India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and National Aerospace Laboratories completed the country’s first successful flight test of a wing that changes shape in mid-air last week, bringing the technology closer to use in next-generation stealth fighters and military drones. The test used a small aircraft fitted with a wing that can bend its front edge by about six degrees in less than a quarter of a second.
The shift changes lift and drag on demand, which could help future jets perform better during combat while staying harder to detect on radar. Engineers designed the wing to bend smoothly without gaps or hinges. The smooth surface cuts radar reflections, a key feature for stealth aircraft. India wants the system for its Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, the stealth fighter planned for the next decade, along with drones and the Navy’s upcoming carrier-based jets.
The team mounted the shape-shifting section onto a 300-millimeter test aircraft and flew it through more than 120 wing changes during a single flight. The wing held up under wind gusts, propeller wash, and quick turns. Sensors tracked each movement and matched predictions from earlier lab work, giving engineers confidence the design can scale up to a full-size aircraft.
After landing, inspectors found no wear on the wing, suggesting the system can handle repeated use. That durability matters for military aircraft that fly in harsh conditions.
The wing moves using special metals that contract when heated and stretch when cooled. A short electrical pulse changes the temperature just enough to shift the shape. A cut along the front edge helps the metal flex without adding heavy motors or hydraulics.
The entire system adds minimal weight and uses little power because software heats only the spots that need to move. That efficiency is important for fighter jets, where every kilogram affects range and speed.
NASA and the U.S. Air Force tested similar wings nearly twenty years ago, but making them light, affordable, and reliable has proved difficult. India hopes to stand out by building systems that work well in hot and dusty conditions common across the region.
More flights are planned. If the system performs well in larger wings, India could install it in operational aircraft within a few years. The successful test shows that flexible wings are no longer just a concept!
