New Delhi: In a significant boost to indigenous defence innovation, the Indian Army has placed a ₹168 crore order for a solar-electric unmanned aerial system under the government’s flagship Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative.
The contract has been awarded to Bengaluru-based startup NewSpace Research & Technologies for its Medium Altitude Persistent Surveillance System (MAPSS), a fully electric, solar-assisted drone designed for long-endurance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
Defence officials say MAPSS is built to provide persistent aerial watch over forward areas and remote border sectors where logistics and power supply are limited. By combining electric propulsion with in-flight solar energy harvesting, the platform is expected to significantly extend time-on-station while reducing operational and maintenance costs.
The procurement marks the first operational induction of a solar-powered surveillance UAV by the Indian armed forces. The system is intended to complement existing medium-altitude long-endurance assets, offering commanders continuous situational awareness, target observation and communications support in difficult terrain and high-altitude regions.
Industry observers see the order as a major validation of the iDEX framework, which aims to connect the armed forces with domestic startups to fast-track innovative military solutions. NewSpace Research & Technologies has earlier supplied a range of unmanned and autonomous systems to the services, and the MAPSS order is being viewed as a milestone for India’s growing defence drone ecosystem.
The Army has not publicly disclosed detailed technical specifications or delivery timelines. However, officials indicate that successful deployment of the system could open the door for additional orders as part of the military’s broader push towards unmanned, persistent ISR capabilities and self-reliance in critical defence technologies.
