INDIA TO LAUNCH INDIGENOUS 6-TONNE HALE UAV

India's effort to build an indigenous High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle has moved into a critical transition stage. The Aeronautical Development Establishment has issued an Expression of Interest to identify a Development-cum-Production Partner for the proposed six-tonne class HALE UAV, while simultaneously preparing to seek cabinet committee on Security approval to formally initiate the development phase.

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A notable feature of the programme is the planned engagement of General Atomics as a technical consultant. This engagement is understood to be linked to India's ongoing MQ-9B acquisition through a barter-style framework. The consultancy is expected to support design maturity, systems integration, and certification strategy, while safeguarding Indian ownership of core intellectual property and manufacturing.

Significant design work has already been completed, with the configuration shaped around tri-service operational needs. The UAV is designed for sustained missions at approximately 40,000 feet and will feature a single turboprop engine in a pusher configuration to maximise endurance, sensor coverage, and aerodynamic efficiency for long-duration ISR roles.

Following CCS clearance, ADE plans to rapidly progress to hardware development, building five prototypes. The first is expected around three years after approval, placing an initial rollout in the 2029-2030 timeframe if clearance is obtained in 2026.