High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite

Context (TH | DH): Scientists at the CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) have successfully tested a UAV called High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) at Challakere, Karnataka.
The trial version was a subscale model with a wingspan of 12 metres. It flew for eight and a half hours at an altitude of 3 km above the mean sea level.
Whereas the full-scale model
- will have a wingspan of around 30 metres and a weight of 150 kg.
- It will be a slow-moving aircraft with a speed of 80-100 km per hour.
- It will be able to fly for 90 days at an altitude of 17-20 km.
- The payload carrying capacity will be 15 kg.
Several nations and companies are currently working on a commercial HASP, but there is barely any product in the market yet.

About High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS)

They are named pseudo-satellites because they perform basic satellite functions, but they do not require a rocket for launching.
- E.g. they can observe the ground from high altitudes, achieving this at a much lower cost.
HAPs are like drones, except that they are expected to be in the stratosphere, well above where commercial planes fly.
Flexibility over satellites: They can be easily moved to a location of choice, unlike a satellite, which has a fixed predetermined path.
They are powered by solar cells and can fly continuously in the atmosphere for days.

Military: intelligence, surveillance, & reconnaissance (exploratory military survey of enemy territory).
Civilian: Can be used as a telecom satellite in times of environmental disasters, for beaming 5G waves and land mapping.

Overcoming climatic factors like jet-stream in northern parts of the country as well as monsoon clouds since HAPS are placed in the Stratosphere.
Solar films used to power the plane are extremely thin. There are only one or two companies in the world capable of making solar-cell films that thin.

The technology is crucial for future air combat, utilising solar energy for day travel and solar-charged batteries for night flight.
These platforms are lightweight, remotely controllable, and equipped with communication capabilities beyond the line of sight.
HAPS can handle a significant portion of a satellite’s workload at a lower cost and with longer viability.
Compared to high-cost HALE drones like the Reaper, pseudo satellites drastically reduce surveillance expenses, costing less than $500 per hour to operate.
The HAPS system will be crucial for India’s drone wingman project, which plans to conduct its maiden flight in 2024.
India needs more ISR and communication data capabilities, which HAPS can provide.

A high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) generally refers to a UAV that flies at a low speed at an altitude of 15–20 km.
Under the USD 3 billion deal, the US will provide India with 31 HALE UAVs.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is developing the loyal wingman program scheduled for flight testing by 2024.
The project is called Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) Warrior and started in 2018.
It was showcased at Aero India 2021.
The Warrior is an autonomous, unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) with twin engines.
It’s designed to operate alongside manned fighter aircraft, protecting them and attacking aerial and ground targets.

It seeks to build indigenous capabilities by involving both the public and private sectors.
Make-I projects: it involves 90% Government funding released in phases based on progress.
Make-II projects: It requires prototype development funded by the industry. No Government funding is provided for prototype development under Make-II.
Make-III projects: It covers military hardware that may not be designed and developed indigenously but can be manufactured in the country for import substitution.