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Bharat Forge Ltd and Pratt & Whitney Canada announced a collaboration on 15 September 2026 on engines for DRDO's High-Altitude, Long-Endurance (HALE) UAV programme.
Pratt & Whitney Canada will assess how well its turboprop engines suit the drone - compatibility, performance and installation needs.
Pune-based Bharat Forge will lead engine-airframe integration, including installation design and systems interfaces.
HALE drones fly long surveillance, intelligence and reconnaissance missions over land and sea.
The tie-up is part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat push in unmanned systems.
Engineering, forging and aerospace-defence manufacturer; flagship of the Kalyani Group
Maker of turboprop, turboshaft and turbofan engines; part of US aerospace group RTX
Designs and develops the HALE UAV
| Class | Operating altitude | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| MALE (Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance) | Medium altitude | Tactical and operational ISR, strike |
| HALE (High-Altitude, Long-Endurance) | High altitude, above most weather and air traffic | Strategic ISR over wide land and sea areas |
General Awareness > Defence technology and partnerships
GS Paper III > Indigenisation of technology; security
High-Altitude, Long-Endurance - UAV class for extended strategic missions
Gas turbine engine driving a propeller
Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance