UAE's Mira Aerospace and Indian start-up VEDA Aeronautics has collaborated to provide High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) solutions made for the Indian market, The Print reported. The solution will serve both military and civilian sectors.
Insiders in the defense and security sources informed the news publication that the initiative is supported by the Indian military. Notably, the HAPS has completed flights over the Pokhran Test Range, soaring at 12 km altitude. The report added that sources indicate that the test, conducted in March last year, stands as the sole flight of a HAPS in the Indian stratosphere.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is seeking to procure a High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) solution with the capability to transport at least a 35 kg payload and maintain operations at an altitude of 18,000 meters above sea level for a minimum period of 30 to 45 days.
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Operating solely on solar energy and cruising autonomously at altitudes of 16-20 km for extended periods, a High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) platform is poised to bridge the gap between satellites and High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UAVs.
Developed within the framework of the Ministry of Defence's Rs 1,000 crore 'Make-I project', which is predominantly funded by the government (90 percent), the HAPS will serve the purpose of strategic and continuous monitoring of India's borders.
This HAPS UAV represents a new category of solar-powered platforms emerging worldwide, intended for persistent surveillance, communication, and scientific missions.
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