The public sector undertaking Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bengaluru-based start-up Newspace and the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) proposed High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) is likely to be cleared by the Centre soon. The cost of this program is estimated to be Rs 700 crores.
Initial seed money of Rs 50 crores will probably be cleared in the next few days which HAL plans to utilize for advanced design and research work of HAPS. Rs 700 crores will be required in phases in the next 3-4 years to start a developmental trial of the prototype.
Some of the features of HAPS are that it relies on solar energy, with secondary batteries charged during the daytime that will power overnight flights for flying continuously for months at a time, at an altitude of 70,000 feet, above weather and conventional air traffic. Its wings are 70-feet and weigh less than 500 Kg that can be loaded with different types of payloads for Maritime Surveillance, Connectivity, Border Security.
