New Delhi/Pune, — Bharat Forge Ltd and Pratt & Whitney Canada, a business of RTX, have announced a collaboration to evaluate the integration of Pratt & Whitney Canada turboprop engines into an indigenous High-Altitude, Long-Endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programme being designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Under the collaboration, Pratt & Whitney Canada will assess the engine’s compatibility, performance and installation requirements for the unmanned aircraft. Bharat Forge will lead the engine-airframe integration, including installation design and systems interfaces, using its engineering, manufacturing and aerospace capabilities.
The evaluation is aimed at determining how Pratt & Whitney Canada’s turboprop technology can meet the requirements of the DRDO-led HALE UAV platform. The companies have not announced a final engine selection.
HALE UAVs are intended for long-endurance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions across land and maritime areas. The programme supports India’s efforts to expand its indigenous UAV capabilities under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative and reduce reliance on imported high-altitude systems for long-duration surveillance.
Amit Kalyani, Vice Chairman and Joint Managing Director of Bharat Forge Ltd, said the partnership combines Pratt & Whitney’s propulsion technology with Bharat Forge’s engineering and systems integration expertise to support the development of the HALE platform and strengthen India’s aerospace and defence manufacturing capabilities.
Ashish Saraf, Vice President and Country Head at Pratt & Whitney, said the collaboration reflects the company’s continued support for India’s aerospace and defence ambitions. He highlighted the reliability of Pratt & Whitney Canada’s turboprop engines in demanding operational environments.
Bharat Forge, headquartered in Pune, has developed aerospace capabilities through partnerships with global companies. The latest initiative brings its engineering and manufacturing capabilities together with Pratt & Whitney Canada’s turboprop-engine expertise for the DRDO HALE UAV programme.
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