SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
The National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) in India has announced a significant milestone in aerospace technology, revealing that the Full Scale High Altitude Platform System (HAPS) is scheduled for its inaugural flight by December 2025. This development marks a pivotal moment for India’s stride towards self-reliance in high-altitude surveillance and communication technologies.
High Altitude Platform System (HAPS) refers to an unmanned aerial vehicle designed to operate at stratospheric altitudes, typically between 18 to 20 kilometers above sea level. Unlike conventional drones or satellites, HAPS combines the advantages of both, offering satellite-like coverage at a fraction of the cost and with the flexibility of an aircraft.
The NAL’s HAPS is engineered to remain airborne for extended periods, potentially up to 90 days, setting a new benchmark for endurance in this class of vehicles. It will serve multiple roles including surveillance, border monitoring, disaster management, and providing broadband internet to remote areas, leveraging its high-altitude vantage point for continuous, wide-area coverage.
Earlier in 2024, NAL conducted test flights of a smaller version of the HAPS, which flew at 3,000 feet with a synthetic aperture radar payload and later at 25,000 feet without it, proving the concept’s viability. The full-scale HAPS will feature advanced solar panels made from gallium arsenide, which are more efficient than traditional silicon-based cells, ensuring longer flight times through solar power.
NAL plans to incorporate an autopilot system where the hardware will be sourced externally, but the software will be developed in-house, showcasing India’s growing expertise in aerospace technology.
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