India has taken a major leap in aviation technology with the development of a solar-powered plane capable of soaring for an incredible 90 days at a time. This remarkable achievement places India among a select group of nations to have successfully created a functional High-Altitude Platform (HAPS).
The brainchild of the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) in Bengaluru, this record-breaking unmanned aircraft operates in the stratosphere, far above commercial airplanes. Similar to drones, HAPS have a wide range of applications, including surveillance, communication, and even beaming 5G signals.
The potential impact of this technology is significant. The World Economic Forum has recognized HAPS as one of the top 10 emerging technologies of 2023. They envision these aircraft, blimps, and balloons as crucial tools for extending mobile network access to remote regions, connecting over 2.6 billion people worldwide who lack access to the digital world.
While Airbus Zephyr, based in the United States, currently holds the record for the longest HAPS flight (64 days), India’s development is a major step forward in the global race for this cutting-edge technology. The NAL team has already successfully flown a smaller version of the HAPS for 10 hours, demonstrating its viability.
The team is currently working on a full-scale version, aiming for a wingspan of under 30 meters and a weight of between 100 and 150 kilograms. This larger version will be able to carry payloads of up to 15 kilograms, opening up even more possibilities for its use.
The development of this innovative technology is a testament to India’s growing strength in aerospace research and innovation. The successful testing of the HAPS prototype is a clear indication of India’s commitment to exploring new frontiers in aviation and contributing to a more connected world.
