IAF seeks high-altitude surveillance platforms for enhanced reconnaissance capabilities

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is outsourcing part of its reconnaissance and intelligence gathering requirements through the use of remotely operated high altitude aerial platforms to civilian contractors. These would operate at considerably higher altitudes than the current fleet of drones in service.

Three high-altitude platform systems (HAPS) have been sought by the IAF, which would be operated on a “contractor owned-contractor operated” basis for a period of one year and carry out at least 1,500 hours of flight,” according to an expression of interest (EOI) issued by the IAF’s Directorate of Operations (Remote) on January 31.

“The HAPS aircraft would be utilised towards carrying out persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), act as airborne data relay for other unmanned platforms as well as electronic intelligence (ELINT) and communication intelligence (COMINT),” the EOI states while detailing the intended use of the equipment.

Only Indian firms based within the country would be eligible for this venture and besides the equipment, they would also be responsible for providing trained crew for operations and maintenance that are licensed or certified by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

The proposed HAPS are required to have a detection range of at least 50 km in day, night or low visibility conditions, should be able to operate at altitudes above 52,000 ft for at least 48 hours, have an encrypted line of sight data link range of over 150 km and satellite link of 400 km, and be compatible with electro-optical, infra-red, ELINT and COMINT payloads.

Other specifications listed by the IAF include the HAPS capability to operate pan-India and be able to negotiate jet-streams encountered at high altitude over the Indian tropical airspace, along with the requisite sensors such as anti-collision system, satellite links.

HAPS have been defined as long endurance, high-altitude aircraft able to undertake observation or communication operations like artificial satellites. Generally unmanned, they remain aloft through atmospheric lift as in either conventional aircraft or balloons or airships. These can also be solar powered.

According to defence experts, HAPS offer a relatively low-cost option for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance tasks and also for carrying out air strikes if so equipped. The American Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk is an example of HAPS.

The Indian military already operates several types of armed as well as unarmed drones of different operational capabilities for surveillance, reconnaissance, strike and logistics. While some have been developed indigenously, others have been sourced from overseas.