As part of the efforts to enhance the surveillance capabilities of the Indian Army, it placed an order for Medium Altitude Persistent Surveillance System (MAPSS) from NewSpace Research & Technologies (NRT), a Bengaluru-based start-up that is developing multiple programmes in Next Generation Mission & Technologies (NGM&T) in aerospace and defence for military and civilian use.
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MAPSS is a solar-powered, fully electric unmanned aerial vehicle. The induction of this system will boost the border surveillance capabilities of the security forces by providing persistent, high-resolution ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) coverage along India's vast and varied borders, enabling real-time threat detection without frequent refuelling.
NRT platforms can operate from 5km to 20 km with varied endurance (few days to months).
This will mark the first instance of the Indian armed forces deploying solar-powered surveillance UAVs, in place of the battery-powered and tethered drones that are currently in use.
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According to The Print, the order, worth Rs 168 crore, has its origin in the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) programme of the defence ministry.
The solar-powered endurance enables the lightweight MAPSS to remain on station for days over remote regions such as Ladakh or Rajasthan, providing round-the-clock monitoring of troop movements, or instances of smuggling or incursions with minimal logistical support.
Its low acoustic and thermal signatures help evade enemy detection, making MAPSS highly suited for forward operations in border regions where manned platforms or short-endurance drones are ineffective, according to The Print report.
“The drone is designed to provide long-endurance intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), electronic intelligence (ELINT), and communications relay support,” the report quoted a source as saying.