- Both companies will evaluate
engine integration on India’s next-generation high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft –
NEW DELHI: Bharat Forge Ltd. and Pratt & Whitney Canada today announced that they will work together to evaluate the integration of advanced turboprop engines into a high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) program designed and developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Pratt & Whitney is an RTX business.
The collaboration supports India’s indigenous unmanned aerial systems efforts under the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. 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.
"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.”
“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.
HALE UAVs provide
long-endurance surveillance, intelligence and reconnaissance across
land and maritime domains.