Bharat Forge, Pratt & Whitney Partner for India's HALE UAV

1 Minute Read Listen to Article

Sep 16, 2026 00:47

Bharat Forge and Pratt & Whitney Canada collaborate to integrate advanced turboprop engines into India's DRDO-designed HALE UAV, boosting indigenous defense.

Bharat Forge, Pratt & Whitney Partner for India's HALE UAV

Photograph: Courtesy, Bharat Forge/Twitter

Key Points

Bharat Forge and Pratt & Whitney Canada are collaborating to support India's High-Altitude, Long-Endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle program.
The partnership focuses on evaluating and integrating advanced turboprop engines into the DRDO-designed HALE UAV.
Bharat Forge will lead the engine-airframe integration, utilizing its engineering and manufacturing capabilities.
This collaboration aims to strengthen India's indigenous unmanned aerial systems efforts under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
The goal is to develop a world-class HALE platform to enhance India's strategic self-reliance and defense preparedness.

New Delhi, Sep 15 (PTI) An Indian firm and an American defence major on Tuesday announced that they will work together to support the development of India's high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle.

In a statement, Bharat Forge and Pratt & Whitney Canada said they will evaluate the integration of advanced turboprop engines into a HALE unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), being designed and developed under a programme by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Pratt & Whitney is a business of US-based RTX.

The collaboration supports India's indigenous unmanned aerial systems efforts under the government's Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

HALE UAVs provide long-endurance surveillance, intelligence and reconnaissance across land and maritime domains.

"Pratt & Whitney Canada will evaluate engine compatibility, performance and installation requirements. Bharat Forge will lead engine-airframe integration, including installation design and systems interfaces, drawing on its advanced engineering, manufacturing and aerospace systems capabilities," the statement said.

"Bharat Forge Aerospace business is proud to collaborate with Pratt & Whitney Canada to advance India's indigenous aerospace and defence manufacturing capabilities," Amit Kalyani, Vice Chairman and Joint Managing Director, Bharat Forge Ltd., was quoted as saying in the statement.

"By combining Pratt & Whitney's globally proven propulsion technologies with Bharat Forge's engineering and systems integration expertise, we aim to support development of a world-class HALE platform that strengthens India's strategic self-reliance and defense preparedness," he said.

This collaboration with Bharat Forge reflects our continued commitment to supporting India's aerospace and defence ambitions, said Ashish Saraf, Vice President and Country Head, Pratt & Whitney.

"Pratt & Whitney Canada's turboprop engines have a proven legacy of reliability in demanding operational environments, which is exactly what's needed for India's HALE programme," he said.

Source: PTI By Rediff Money Desk, New Delhi

DISCLAIMER - This article is from a syndicated feed. The original source is responsible for accuracy, views & content ownership. Views expressed may not reflect those of rediff.com India Limited.