Bengaluru-based NewSpace Research and Technologies Pvt Ltd (NRT) has reported a significant milestone with its solar-powered High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS). The drone successfully completed its inaugural flight, surpassing 21 hours of continuous operation. This achievement represents a substantial boost to India's efforts in establishing its own fleet of long-endurance drones capable of operating in the stratosphere.

Under the auspices of the Defence Ministry's Innovation for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative, the project is actively led by NewSpace Research and Technologies Pvt Ltd (NRT). As part of this initiative, NRT has entered into a contractual agreement for the development of an initial proof-of-concept demonstrator. The primary objective of this demonstrator is to achieve a solar-powered flight duration exceeding 48 hours, showcasing advancements in long-endurance drone capabilities.

The Winter Solstice served as a challenging test for the solar-powered UAV. The next flight is scheduled for June 21, the Summer Solstice. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has allocated Rs 1,000 crore for the High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) project under the 'Make I project,' with 70 percent funding from the government.

Defense sources highlight NRT's achievement as a groundbreaking development in air warfare. The solar-powered UAV's capabilities include day and night flying, utilizing solar energy during the day and a solar-charged battery for nighttime operations. The goal is to have it fly in the stratosphere at approximately 65,000 feet, well above the typical altitude of commercial aircraft, which ranges from 31,000 to 38,000 feet, or about 5.9 to 7.2 miles.

The National Aerospace Laboratories, under India's Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, is working on a project similar to NRT's, but progress details are undisclosed. Defense sources note that India lacks a stratospheric vehicle.

 A solar-powered HAPS platform, capable of autonomous flight at 16-20 km for months, bridges the gap between satellites and HALE UAVs. HAPS is ultra-lightweight with a robust structure, adaptable for improved battery technology and increased endurance.

The planned surveillance payloads for HAPS include electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR), synthetic aperture radars (SAR), and communication payloads. The ISR capabilities of HAPS offer observations up to 80-100 km from stratospheric altitudes, surpassing MALE UAVs.

This technology addresses critical ISR gaps experienced during crises like Doklam, Balakot, and the Ladakh situation. The Navy benefits by enabling continuous, cost-effective surveillance of the Indian Ocean Region. Additionally, HAPS serves civilian purposes by providing telecommunication connectivity in areas with terrestrial network challenges due to terrain and costs.

Image source: Swarajya