India’s HALE UAV Development to Rely on General Atomics Expertise and Technology Transfer

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

India is advancing its plans to develop a High-Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for its armed forces, with support from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI). This collaboration is part of India’s broader deal to acquire 31 MQ-9B HALE UAVs for its military, with GA-ASI providing consulting and technical expertise for the indigenous HALE program.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) had previously proposed a HALE UAV platform, which would weigh approximately 4,000 kg.