Indian Army Advances Defence with Solar-Powered UAV Order from Bengaluru Startup
In a significant advancement for India’s indigenous and unmanned defense capabilities, the Indian Army has secured a ₹168 crore contract for a fully electric, solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) aimed at enhancing long-endurance border surveillance. This system, named the Medium Altitude Persistent Surveillance System (MAPSS), has been developed by the Bengaluru-based startup NewSpace Research & Technologies (NRT) under the Ministry of Defence’s Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative.
This acquisition marks the first instance of solar-powered surveillance UAVs being incorporated into the Indian armed forces, which have predominantly utilized battery-powered and tethered drones until now.
Persistent Surveillance with Solar Power
Designed for medium-altitude and long-endurance missions, MAPSS facilitates continuous intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) along India’s extensive and varied borders, spanning from the Himalayas to the deserts of Rajasthan. Its solar-electric propulsion empowers the UAV to stay airborne for prolonged periods without needing frequent landings or refueling, thereby minimizing logistical challenges in remote areas.
Defence sources indicate that the platform will aid in:
| Persistent ISR and border monitoring |
| Electronic intelligence (ELINT) missions |
| Communication relay in connectivity-denied zones |
| Artillery spotting and battlefield overwatch |
The electric propulsion's low acoustic and thermal signatures make the system less detectable.
Built on Indigenous R&D under iDEX
The MAPSS project emerged from NRT’s research into solar-powered High Altitude Pseudo Satellites (HAPS), which have already set national endurance records. Trials conducted at the Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga exhibited flights lasting over 24–27 hours at altitudes surpassing 26,000 feet, even in low-sunlight scenarios.
Following these high-altitude tests, MAPSS has been adapted for medium-altitude operations, proven effective through successful demonstrations in Army deployment zones.
Growing Drone Push After Operation Sindoor
This procurement indicates the Army’s intensified focus on unmanned warfare post-Operation Sindoor. Since then, the Army has incorporated loitering munitions, kamikaze drones, and surveillance UAVs valued at over ₹5,000 crore from Indian companies. Further approvals nearing ₹3,000 crore for drone acquisitions were sanctioned by the Defence Acquisition Council in late 2025, with a substantial ₹20,000 crore fast-track drone procurement anticipated in 2026.
Strategic Significance
According to defense officials, MAPSS will enhance existing medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAVs by providing networked ISR at forward positions, boosting situational awareness without resorting to manned or high-signature platforms.
This induction underscores the increasing influence of Indian startups in defense modernization, with iDEX serving as a crucial link between innovation and operational application.
As the global UAV market sees rapid expansion, India’s embrace of solar-powered, persistent surveillance drones marks a pivotal shift toward technology-driven, sustainable, and autonomous military operations, bolstering border security while advancing the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative in defense.
