Bharat Forge and Pratt & Whitney Canada to develop engines for India's HALE UAV

Bharat Forge and Pratt & Whitney Canada have entered a collaboration to evaluate the integration of advanced turboprop engines into the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programme.

Under the agreement, Pratt & Whitney Canada will assess engine compatibility, performance, and installation requirements. Bharat Forge will lead the engine-airframe integration, focusing on installation design and systems interfaces by utilizing its engineering and aerospace systems capabilities.

The HALE UAVs are intended for long-endurance surveillance, intelligence, and reconnaissance across land and maritime domains. This partnership aims to support the development of a world-class platform to enhance India’s strategic self-reliance and indigenous aerospace manufacturing capabilities.