ADE and HAL Spearhead Two Parallel Turboprop and Turbojet HALE Drone Programs, Offering Distinct Surveillance for Himalayan Border

In a major advancement for India's indigenous defence capabilities, two separate High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) drone programs are being fast-tracked with formal endorsement from the Indian Army and Air Force.

State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) are leading parallel projects to develop turbojet and turboprop-powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), respectively.

These initiatives are designed to meet distinct operational needs for surveillance along India’s borders, particularly in the challenging high-altitude terrain of the Himalayas.

Both proposals are reportedly nearing final approval from the Ministry of Defence, signalling a firm commitment to enhancing the nation's self-reliance in critical military technology.

The push for sophisticated, domestically produced HALE drones addresses a crucial strategic requirement for advanced Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.

The extreme altitudes and harsh weather conditions of the Himalayas demand aerial platforms capable of sustained, long-duration monitoring, a gap these new drones are intended to fill.

ADE’s Endurance Platform with GE Expertise​

The Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), a key laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is developing a turboprop-powered HALE UAV focused on endurance.

This design is optimized for lengthy surveillance missions, with a projected ability to remain airborne for over 25 hours.

The program is significantly enhanced by a technical consultancy with GE Aerospace. This partnership leverages GE's extensive experience, which was solidified by India's recent acquisition of 31 MQ-9B drones, which also use turboprop engines.

The ADE drone, expected to have a total weight of approximately five tons, will benefit from superior fuel efficiency, making it ideal for persistent monitoring.

Its payload is expected to include advanced systems such as synthetic aperture radar and electro-optical sensors, with the potential for carrying precision munitions. The collaboration with GE is anticipated to accelerate the development timeline, with a potential rollout by late 2025 if clearances are granted.

HAL’s High-Speed, High-Altitude Jet UAV​

In a parallel effort, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is developing a more ambitious turbojet-powered HALE UAV.

This platform prioritizes speed and operational altitude to counter the challenges of thin air and extreme weather in the upper atmosphere of the Himalayan region. The Indian Air Force has specifically endorsed a jet-powered solution for its high-altitude ISR requirements.

This drone is slated to be powered by the indigenous Hindustan Turbo Fan Engine (HTFE-25), a 25kN thrust class engine currently under development by HAL's engine division.

With a projected maximum takeoff weight of 7-8 tons, the HAL drone will be capable of operating above 40,000 feet. This will allow it to carry a heavier and more diverse set of equipment, including early warning radars and air-to-ground missiles.

By focusing on an indigenous engine and platform, this program aims to ensure long-term strategic autonomy, reducing India's dependence on foreign suppliers for maintenance and parts.

Together, the two programs represent a complementary strategy.

The ADE drone will provide persistent, round-the-clock observation, while the HAL jet will offer rapid deployment and the ability to operate at extreme altitudes, creating a formidable, multi-layered surveillance network to safeguard national interests.

 

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[Somnath Sinhababu]

India should join the Eurodrone programme. It will save our time, cost, and everything. If there is already an option, then why are we doing something else again? Most importantly, HAL is involved, so we have to look somewhere else. Eurodrone is such a potent and advanced platform that we cannot build ourselves.

 

[Baiju Bhaskaran]

It is better to give this project completely to HAL and let them partner with private companies if required.

 

[divine]

India should join the Eurodrone programme. It will save our time, cost, and everything. If there is already an option, then why are we doing something else again? Most importantly, HAL is involved, so we have to look somewhere else. Eurodrone is such a potent and advanced platform that we cannot build ourselves.

The European Eurodrone is an old project, more than 10 years old now, extremely expensive, and above all, it is not ITAR free because its engines are under US license. So, in my opinion, it's a project to be avoided!

 

[KhuddiRamBose]

Every state must have a dedicated done research facilities or manufacturing house for domestic as well as commercial purpose

 

[Sandeep]

It’s essential that we develop this 100% indigenously and we manufacture it with Indian raw materials. While we do need MALE and HALE drones we will need more MALE drones and we should start developing that type first unless they can develop both types of drones together which would be better.

Recently there has been several private companies who are looking at developing these type of drones but unfortunately it will still take some time. They should still continue to develop them for our military and to make exports.

So far we are manufacturing the UCAV Archer NG which will allow us to conduct ISTAR, EW, SIGINT, COMINT missions but also allows us to use several air to surface missiles and bombs.

Another crucial project is the stealth UCAV Ghatak which will allow us to hit deeper and long range targets and carry our surveillance. This is a very important project that we definitely need to increase developing several of the prototypes.

 

[pgahlot]

That's a good news that ADE is working on MALE with Turboprop engine which maybe same Pratt & Whitney engine used in MQ-9. Make it and collab with one of the private companies to make it.
Let HAL do their work on HALE using STFE-25 engine (still in progress).
This way we may get 1 good HALE drone.