India has approved the induction of fixed-wing High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) platforms to enhance long-duration intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities while awaiting deployment of its planned military satellite constellation. Operating in the stratosphere above 65,000 feet, HAPS platforms use solar energy and battery storage to remain airborne for extended periods, providing uninterrupted monitoring over strategic regions. Equipped with electro-optical, infrared, synthetic aperture radar, SIGINT, and communications payloads, these aircraft bridge surveillance gaps created by limited satellite revisit rates. Indigenous programs led by CSIR-NAL and NewSpace Research & Technologies are advancing toward operational deployment, supporting border security, maritime monitoring, disaster management, and military communications through persistent aerial coverage.
