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India Developing Solar-Powered UAV That Can Stay in Air for 90 Days!
India is developing its own indigenously built solar-powered UAV capable of operating at an altitude of around 20 km in the stratosphere. Known as a High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS), this unmanned aerial vehicle is designed and developed entirely within the country.
Indigenous Solar-Powered UAV
The CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) is leading the development of this UAV, which combines a conventional aircraft design with an advanced solar energy system. This setup allows the aircraft to remain airborne for several months without requiring conventional refuelling. In addition, a secondary battery system is integrated to have more endurance.
High Endurance UAV
The HAPS platform is expected to deliver exceptional endurance of up to 90 days, maintaining a fixed position over a specific geographical area. This sets it apart from conventional UAVs such as the Hawk or Predator, which have significantly lower endurance.
Operating in the stratosphere presents major challenges, including high winds and intense solar radiation. To handle these conditions, the UAV is designed as a heavier-than-air platform with a wingspan exceeding 30 metres and a weight of approximately 150 kg. It absorbs solar energy during the day and stores it in onboard batteries for continuous night-time operation.
The aircraft is engineered with a strong focus on energy efficiency. The global benchmark set by platforms like the Airbus Zephyr has demonstrated long-endurance capabilities, with a record of around 64 days of continuous flight. If successfully developed into a production model, India's HAPS UAV could potentially become one of the longest-endurance aerial platforms in the world.
Backup for Satellites
This technology effectively bridges the gap between low-altitude drones and high-cost satellites. Flying above clouds and most weather disturbances, it benefits from stable atmospheric conditions and uninterrupted solar exposure, enabling reliable long-duration missions.
The UAV can be highly valuable for telecommunications, especially in remote and rural areas. It can also be deployed during emergencies or natural disasters to restore connectivity and support rescue operations.
In addition, the platform has strong applications in border surveillance, maritime monitoring for the Navy, mapping, and weather data collection, supported by high-resolution camera sensors and 5G equipment.
The system has already completed initial testing, achieving a flight duration of 11 hours at an altitude of 25,000 feet. With further development underway, the project is targeted for operational deployment by 2027.
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