CSIR-NAL Completes Pre-Monsoon Flight Trials of Indigenous HAP Prototype.
Science and Technology
In May 2025, the Bengaluru-based National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), operating under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), successfully carried out a series of pre-monsoon flight tests for its indigenous High-Altitude Platform (HAP) prototype. This achievement marks a major step forward in India’s advancement in aerial surveillance and strategic monitoring technologies.
- The flight tests were conducted between May 8 and May 13, 2025, at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) located in Challakere, Chitradurga district, Karnataka. These trials involved an upgraded and certified pilot system, further enhancing the reliability and performance of the HAP.
- Designed to provide persistent aerial coverage, the HAP has potential applications in both military and civilian domains. It is envisioned to support critical operations such as border surveillance, disaster response, telecommunications, weather forecasting, and environmental monitoring.
- This milestone underscores CSIR-NAL's ongoing efforts to strengthen India’s self-reliance in aerospace technologies and its ability to develop strategic platforms tailored to national needs.
Main Point :- (i) The subscale HAP prototype achieved an altitude of 24,000 feet (FL240), confirming its ability to operate in the stratosphere. It also demonstrated endurance by maintaining flight under low solar energy conditions, indicating strong reliability.
(ii) The prototype is equipped with a certified, sensor-redundant autopilot system that enables fully autonomous operations without human intervention, enhancing mission safety and efficiency.
(iii) Featuring a 12-meter wingspan and weighing under 22 kg, the current model carries a payload of around 1 kg. The planned full-scale HAP will fly at 65,000 feet (20 km) with a 10 kg payload, aimed at delivering long-duration aerial coverage for strategic applications.
About National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL)
Director : Dr. Abhay Anant Pashilkar
Headquarters : Bengaluru
____________________________
