India Advances Plans to Build Long-Range Drones
State-owned National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) has finalized an agreement with a private sector firm to integrate its Indian-engineered Wankel engines into new unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), according to the report.
Until now, India has depended on foreign corporations to furnish engines powering virtually all variants of its unmanned platforms.
NAL will initially transfer technology for its 30-horsepower (hp) Wankel engine to power drones designed to fly for up to nine hours. The UAVs are expected to hit targets that are over 560 miles away.
NAL's 30 hp engine has already received a crucial certification for flight testing, according to the report.
A 50 hp engine is also in the works, the news outlet said, quoting unnamed sources. It added that certifications and trials are expected soon.
A 90 hp engine, which can boost a heavier class of UAVs, is also being envisaged, according to the report.
Solar Defense and Aerospace Limited (SDAL) serves as the commercial collaborator for the drone initiative.
Under the partnership terms, NAL will transfer technology and develop the drones, while SDAL will oversee manufacturing and marketing in the country and abroad.
The aircraft will function in environments where Global Positioning System (GPS) technology doesn't work. Its AI-enabled payload is expected to ensure real-time intelligence and situational awareness, the report said.
India is leveraging indigenous manufacturers to strengthen Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Make in India' campaign, particularly within the defense industry.
Sunday saw Modi praising a recent drone challenge set up to promote young innovators, which was facilitated by the Indian Space Research Organization. He also highlighted developments in India's private space ecosystem and cited the recent inauguration of Skyroot Aerospace's Infinity Campus in Hyderabad as "a new boost" for the sector.
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