SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In a bid to overcome the challenges faced in its High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) program, the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) is seeking foreign expertise. General Atomics, a renowned aerospace and defense company, has extended an offer to act as a consultant for India’s HALE UAV development.
The ADE’s previous attempts at developing UAVs, particularly the Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) UAV, Tapas, have been marred by delays and performance issues. This has cast a shadow over the ambitious HALE UAV project.
Despite the ADE’s initial design for the HALE UAV bearing striking similarities to General Atomics’ MQ-9B, the Indian Army and Air Force have expressed concerns over the project’s potential outcomes. To mitigate these risks, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is considering involving a private Indian company in the development process.
Under this proposed arrangement, the ADE would provide the design, while the selected private company would undertake the manufacturing. General Atomics’ consultancy would ensure that the design is robust and efficient, preventing the overengineering and weight issues that plagued the Tapas program.
By collaborating with a foreign expert and a domestic private sector player, the Indian government aims to accelerate the development of the HALE UAV, a critical asset for surveillance, intelligence gathering, and strike missions.
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