Politics · India Bureau
Bharat Forge, Pratt & Whitney to collaborate on India's indigenous HALE UAV
Defence contractor Bharat Forge and US aerospace firm Pratt & Whitney Canada have announced a partnership to advance India's high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle programme. The collaboration aims to integrate advanced turboprop engines into the DRDO-developed platform as part of New Delhi's self-reliance push in defence systems.
LSN India ·
Bharat Forge and Pratt & Whitney Canada said on Tuesday they will jointly evaluate the integration of advanced turboprop engines into a HALE unmanned aerial vehicle being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Under the partnership, Pratt & Whitney Canada will assess engine compatibility, performance metrics and installation specifications for the platform. Bharat Forge will assume responsibility for engine-airframe integration, including installation design and systems interfaces, leveraging its expertise in precision engineering and defence manufacturing.
The collaboration aligns with India's Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, which emphasises building domestic capabilities across the defence and aerospace sectors. HALE UAVs are designed to provide extended surveillance, intelligence and reconnaissance capabilities across both terrestrial and maritime operational domains, making them valuable assets for national security.
Pratt & Whitney Canada is a subsidiary of US defence conglomerate RTX. The partnership demonstrates continued industry engagement in developing indigenous unmanned aerial systems and reducing India's dependence on imported defence platforms.