High-Altitude Platform (HAP) Prototype

Source: TOI

Context: India’s indigenously developed High-Altitude Platform (HAP) prototype, designed by NAL, successfully completed pre-monsoon flight tests using a certified autopilot system.

About High-Altitude Platform (HAP) Prototype:

• What is HAP? A High-Altitude Platform (HAP) is a solar-powered, unmanned stratospheric aircraft that operates at 17–22 km altitude, bridging the gap between terrestrial systems and satellites.

• A High-Altitude Platform (HAP) is a solar-powered, unmanned stratospheric aircraft that operates at 17–22 km altitude, bridging the gap between terrestrial systems and satellites.

• Developed By:

• National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Bengaluru under CSIR. Supported by Aeronautical Test Range (ATR), Chitradurga, Karnataka.

• National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Bengaluru under CSIR.

• Supported by Aeronautical Test Range (ATR), Chitradurga, Karnataka.

• Objectives:

• Border patrolling and surveillance over sensitive and remote terrains. To provide persistent aerial coverage for military and civil applications. Serve as a telecommunication relay and meteorological platform.

• Border patrolling and surveillance over sensitive and remote terrains.

• To provide persistent aerial coverage for military and civil applications.

• Serve as a telecommunication relay and meteorological platform.

• Key Features of India’s HAP:

• Solar-Powered Platform: Enables extended, high-endurance flight. Certified Autopilot System: Fully autonomous flight with fail-safe algorithms and redundant control sensors. Altitude Achieved: Up to 24,000 ft (FL240) in recent tests and full-scale version can operate at 65,000 ft (20 km). Payload Capacity: Subscale – 1kg and Full-scale – 10kg (including radiosondes, 5G base stations). Endurance: 8.5+ hours in test flights and longer duration planned in final model. Wingspan: 12 metres (subscale model) and light-weight under 22kg.

• Solar-Powered Platform: Enables extended, high-endurance flight.

• Certified Autopilot System: Fully autonomous flight with fail-safe algorithms and redundant control sensors.

• Altitude Achieved: Up to 24,000 ft (FL240) in recent tests and full-scale version can operate at 65,000 ft (20 km).

• Payload Capacity: Subscale – 1kg and Full-scale – 10kg (including radiosondes, 5G base stations).

• Endurance: 8.5+ hours in test flights and longer duration planned in final model.

• Wingspan: 12 metres (subscale model) and light-weight under 22kg.

• Applications of HAP:

• Defence: Border surveillance, intelligence gathering, disaster response. Meteorology: Radiosonde deployment, monsoon cloud measurements (IITM, Pune use case). Telecommunications: Temporary or mobile 5G connectivity in remote or disaster-hit areas. Geoinformatics: Real-time mapping, environmental monitoring. Crowd Monitoring: Public safety during large events or protests.

• Defence: Border surveillance, intelligence gathering, disaster response.

• Meteorology: Radiosonde deployment, monsoon cloud measurements (IITM, Pune use case).

• Telecommunications: Temporary or mobile 5G connectivity in remote or disaster-hit areas.

• Geoinformatics: Real-time mapping, environmental monitoring.

• Crowd Monitoring: Public safety during large events or protests.