The government of India is preparing to launch its program to develop its own unmanned combat aerial vehicles, according to Indian media reports.

Times of India reports the proposed combat aircraft will be armed with missiles and designed to engage targets, and return to home bases to be re-fitted for future missions. The initiative, known as Project Ghatak, has already been cleared by the Indian Ministry of Defense, and now awaits approval from the Indian Ministry of Finance.

"The project is now being evaluated by an expert committee set up by the finance ministry. Once approved, Project Ghatak will be placed before the cabinet committee on security for the final nod," a source told Times of India.

The unmanned combat aerial vehicles will be powered by a variant of Indian-designed Kaveri aerospace engines, and will weigh less than a conventional fighter jet.

While many nations have fleets of unmanned combat aerial vehicles through foreign military sales, the United States, China, Pakistan and Israel are the only nations known to manufacture their own UCAVs.