New Delhi: Bharat Forge Ltd. and Pratt & Whitney Canada have announced a collaboration to evaluate the integration of advanced turboprop engines into a high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programme designed and developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Pratt & Whitney is an RTX business. Under the collaboration, the two companies will assess the integration of turboprop engines for India’s next-generation HALE unmanned aircraft, supporting the country’s indigenous unmanned aerial systems efforts under the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Pratt & Whitney Canada will evaluate engine compatibility, performance and installation requirements as part of the programme. Bharat Forge will lead the engine-airframe integration, including installation design and systems interfaces, drawing on its advanced engineering, manufacturing and aerospace systems capabilities.
The collaboration involving turboprop engines is aimed at supporting the development of India’s indigenous aerospace and defence capabilities and the next-generation HALE platform.
“Bharat Forge Aerospace business is proud to collaborate with Pratt & Whitney Canada to advance India’s indigenous aerospace and defense manufacturing capabilities,” said Amit Kalyani, Vice Chairman and Joint Managing Director, Bharat Forge Ltd.
“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.”
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Pratt & Whitney Canada’s turboprop engines will be evaluated for compatibility and performance requirements associated with the HALE UAV programme.
“This collaboration with Bharat Forge reflects our continued commitment to supporting India’s aerospace and defense 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 program.”
The evaluation of turboprop engines forms part of the companies’ collaboration on engine integration for India’s indigenous HALE UAV programme. Bharat Forge will undertake the engine-airframe integration work, covering installation design and systems interfaces.
HALE UAVs provide long-endurance surveillance, intelligence and reconnaissance across land and maritime domains. The platform is designed and developed by DRDO as part of India’s indigenous unmanned aerial systems efforts.
The collaboration on turboprop engines also brings together Pratt & Whitney Canada’s propulsion technologies and Bharat Forge’s engineering and systems integration capabilities.
