India's Next-Gen Border Surveillance: Solar-Powered Spy Drones Take Flight

• The Indian Army has ordered a Rs 168 crore solar-powered unmanned aerial system (UAS) from Bengaluru-based NewSpace Research & Technologies (NRT) under the iDEX framework.
• The system, Medium Altitude Persistent Surveillance System (MAPSS), is India's first fully electric, solar-powered surveillance UAV for long-endurance missions.
• MAPSS is designed for continuous intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), electronic intelligence (ELINT), and communications relay support.
• It offers strategic vantage points across diverse terrains like the Himalayas and Rajasthan, with quiet electric propulsion and low thermal signature.
• The procurement highlights the success of the Ministry of Defence's iDEX program in fostering indigenous defence innovation.

Why It Matters: India boosts border security with advanced solar-powered spy drones for persistent, low-detection surveillance.