Aero India 2023: Solar-Powered Drone Designed For Surveillance Operations Unveiled

Aero India 2023: Garuda Aerospace on Wednesday unveiled its solar-powered drone, named ‘SURAJ’. Principal Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister and former DRDO Chief Dr. Satheesh Reddy unveiled it.

The drone’s unique J-shaped wings are equipped with solar-powered cells that serve as its primary fuel source, while an auxiliary battery provides additional propulsion or decreased speed as required. It has been designed specifically for surveillance operations.

The drone will carry a versatile payload of high-resolution zoom cameras with thermal imagery and foliage-penetrating lidar sensors with a maximum capacity of 10 kg.

According to the company, SURAJ is an ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) high-altitude drone designed specifically for surveillance operations, providing real-time information to the high command and protecting jawans on the ground.

Garuda Aerospace press release

The company said in a press release, “The drone is all set to support various Indian and global giants namely the Indian Army, Navy, Airforce, BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, DRDO, MOD, and MHA”.

“It has an endurance of 12 hours and can fly at an altitude of 3000 ft. The cutting-edge technology will capture, process, and transmit photos and videos in real-time, ensuring that the headquarters and base have access to vital information before planning strategic operations and terms”, the release further added.

Founder & CEO of Garuda Aerospace’s statements

Garuda Aerospace, Founder and CEO, Agnishwar Jayaprakash said, “We are confident that the SURAJ drone will play a vital role in safeguarding the security of our nation and the people. SURAJ will have ISR capability and will be equipped with AI, ML, and Bionic Chip for advanced real-time processing”. “Garuda Aerospace is also being guided by NAL, DRDO, and several other scientists on the development of the SURAJ drone”, he added.

The Aerospace has been the preferred drone partner for NDRF since the pandemic. It has equipped 400 drones and over 500 pilots to support different emergencies, across 84 cities.

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