India has made significant steps in aerospace technology with the development of a solar-powered plane capable of flying continuously for up to 90 days. This achievement places India among the few nations to create a functional High-Altitude Platform (HAPS). The National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) in Bengaluru is behind this innovation, having successfully tested a smaller version of the aircraft that remained airborne for 10 hours.
HAPS, akin to drones but operating in the stratosphere—far above commercial air traffic—are versatile in their applications. They can be used for purposes ranging from surveillance to transmitting 5G signals. Currently, the only other functional HAPS globally is the Airbus Zephyr, which has managed a continuous flight of 64 days in the Arizona desert.
This cutting-edge technology was highlighted at the recent India Defence Aviation Exposition, held from September 12 to 15. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the three-day event, showcasing advances in aerospace technology.
Earlier this year, HAPS also made the World Economic Forum's list of top 10 emerging technologies. The international think tank noted that these aircraft, along with blimps and balloons, could play a crucial role in extending mobile network access to remote areas, potentially bridging the digital divide for over 2.6 billion people worldwide.
In February, NAL achieved a milestone with the successful testing of a HAPS prototype in Challakere. “The HAPS we tested in Challakere is a prototype. It's a scaled-down 5-metre-long system with a 12-metre wingspan, weighing 23 kg. By 2027, we're confident of building a full-scale version that could have a wingspan of under 30m and weigh more than 100kg but less than 150kg. It will be able to carry payloads weighing 15kg and have multiple uses,” chief scientist L Venkatakrishnan told the Times of India.
Additionally, Bengaluru-based startup New Space Research and Technologies has developed a similar prototype with a 24-hour endurance capability.