India’s native military drone program is set to make a big progress with the TAPAS BH-201 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) scheduled for its first flight using a locally made engine. This important test is expected to happen in late September or October 2025, as shared with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence.This test marks a big step in India’s effort to become self-reliant in key defence technologies, a major goal of the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” program. The project is led by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), a key lab under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The TAPAS BH-201, or Tactical Airborne Platform for Aerial Surveillance-Beyond Horizon-201, is a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drone. It was built to meet the Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) needs of the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy. It is designed to constantly monitor large areas without putting pilots at risk. The drone can operate for more than 24 hours at altitudes of up to 30,000 feet. It has a 20.6-meter wingspan and can carry a payload of up to 350 kg, including advanced sensors and monitoring tools.Developing the TAPAS has not been easy, especially in meeting the tough performance targets set by the armed forces. Earlier versions, which used foreign engines, could only fly for 18 hours at 28,000 feet, which wasn’t enough. To fix this, the Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE), another DRDO lab, built a 180-horsepower engine.
The upcoming flight will be the first time the TAPAS uses this new locally made engine. This should improve its performance and efficiency, helping it meet operational goals. This change also helps India become less dependent on foreign suppliers.The TAPAS UAV is a very flexible tool. It can be fitted with various types of equipment, such as high-resolution cameras, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for weather-proof monitoring, and special tools to gather electronic and communication intelligence. Its range is greatly increased by using India’s GAGAN navigation system for satellite communication, allowing it to be operated from a ground station over 1,000 km away.
This long-distance capability makes it important for monitoring India’s borders and for maritime missions, with the Indian Navy planning to use it in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.The upcoming engine test follows over 200 successful test flights. Important milestones have already been reached, including fully autonomous takeoff and landing, and a successful demonstration of the drone’s abilities to a team from all three military services in June 2023. Once the new engine is tested and approved, the TAPAS BH-201 will move to final user trials before it is officially used by the forces. The production of the UAV will be done by public sector defence companies Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
