The ministry of defence has signed up a design and development contract with a Bengaluru-based NewSpace Research & Technologies to develop a High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) which will be able to conduct surveillance operations and support communications by staying airborne for months at a stretch.
Mentored under the ministry’s Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative, the programme has been supported by the armed forces and will see Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) as the lead prototype development partner.
NewSpace signed the contract with defence ministry on 10 Feb 2022, with plans in place to develop the first prototype for tests within the next four years. The first phase of the programme will be undertaken by the startup with the seed funding by defence ministry and the prototype development is likely to see HAL as the lead partner. The estimated budget to develop the system is upwards of ₹700 crore and it will be part of HALs Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) that seeks to integrated manned airborne platforms with swarm drones and a high altitude surveillance network.
