IAF wants surveillance UAVs that can fly in stratosphere

Time of India

02-05-2025

NEW DELHI: The IAF now wants to acquire three
high-altitude platform system
(HAPS) aircraft, which are basically
unmanned aerial vehicles
or 'pseudo-satellites' that operate in the stratosphere for long durations on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
"Capable of operating at an altitude of about 20km, which is much higher than the flightpaths of commercial planes, the HAPS aircraft will be used for persistent ISR as well as act as airborne data relay for other unmanned platforms for electronic and communications intelligence," an officer said.
Initiating the case for the three long-duration HAPS aircraft and associated equipment, amid heightened tensions with Pakistan as well as the lack of de-escalation along Line of Actual Control with China, IAF has issued an initial request for information (RFI) for vendors to submit their responses by June 20.
HAPS aircraft, which are usually solar-powered, are considered much cheaper to deploy and operate than satellites. "Capable of automatic take-off and landing, HAPS aircraft do not require launch vehicles or rockets like satellites. They can be deployed from different locations as well as repaired and maintained easily as compared to satellites," the officer said.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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While the armed forces are also pursuing the case for launch-on-demand satellites, IAF wants HAPS aircraft to have a minimum operational endurance of 48 hours with data links and telemetry range of at least 150 km in a "line of sight" environment.
"The desirable Satcom (satellite communication) is at least 400 km," the RFI said. With a detection range of at least 50 km from the operating altitude, the aircraft should be compatible with electro-optical and infrared cameras as well as electronic and communication intelligence payloads. They should be capable of effectively operating even during night and low-visibility conditions. "The complete delivery is expected to be completed in 18 months from the date of the contract," the RFI said.
IAF is parallelly pursuing a case for three ISTAR (intelligence, surveillance, targeting and reconnaissance) aircraft to provide accurate "actionable intelligence" acquired through synthetic aperture radars, electro-optical and infrared sensors.
Under the much-touted Defence Technology and Trade Initiative between India and the US, which has largely failed to deliver till now, ISTAR platforms were among the different projects identified for co-development and co-production.