Indian Army Solar-Powered Drone: The Indian Army has placed an order worth ₹168 crore for a new drone called the Medium Altitude Persistent Surveillance System, or MAPSS. This drone is made by a Bengaluru based startup named NewSpace Research & Technologies, also called NRT. The project comes under the defence ministry’s Innovations for Defence Excellence programme, known as iDEX.
MAPSS is a solar powered and fully electric drone. It can fly at medium height and stay in the air for a very long time. Because it uses sunlight, it does not need fuel again and again. This helps the Army watch border areas all day and all night. The drone can send clear images and live information. Thiis will help security forces quickly spot threats, smuggling, or illegal crossings along India’s long borders.
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What makes MAPSS different?
This drone is special because it can stay in the sky for days. NRT drones can fly at heights between 5 km and 20 km. Their flying time can range from a few days to even months depending on the mission. The Army can use MAPSS in tough areas like Ladakh or the deserts of Rajasthan where it is hard to send people or vehicles.
This is the first time Indian armed forces will use solar powered surveillance drones. Right now they mostly use battery powered drones or drones tied with cables. MAPSS does not need those limits. It can quietly fly over sensitive areas because it makes very little noise and heat.
The order is seen as a big success for the iDEX programme, which started in 2018 to connect Indian innovators with the armed forces. NewSpace Research & Technologies has been part of iDEX since the early days. Before MAPSS, the company won contracts for swarm drones, tethered surveillance drones, and high altitude platform projects.
In 2023 NRT delivered 100 mixed swarm drones to the Indian Army under a fast track process, reported The print. This made India one of the first countries to actually use large drone swarms in real operations. The company also supplied tethered drone systems and began work on advanced projects like the Abhimanyu collaborative combat aircraft for the Indian Navy.
iDEX has supported more than 200 startups and helped place defence orders worth thousands of crores for Indian made systems. MAPSS is a special achievement because it brings fully Indian hardware into service through the iDEX UAV programme.
Built for long Missions
Reports say the lightweight drone can watch troop movement and suspicious activity without much support from the ground. It does not need frequent refuelling or large teams to operate it.
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A source explained the role of the drone clearly. “The drone is designed to provide long-endurance intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), electronic intelligence (ELINT), and communications relay support.” This means the drone can spy, collect signals, and even help pass messages in areas where normal communication is weak.
