Bharat Forge and RTX’s Pratt & Whitney Canada have announced a collaboration to assess the use of turboprop engine technology for an indigenous high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft programme being developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The companies announced the collaboration in New Delhi on September 15, 2026. Under the arrangement, Pratt & Whitney Canada will assess the suitability, performance and installation requirements of its engines for the programme, while Bharat Forge will work on the broader integration requirements between the propulsion system and aircraft.
The partnership brings together Bharat Forge’s engineering and manufacturing capabilities with Pratt & Whitney Canada’s experience in aircraft propulsion. Pratt & Whitney is an RTX business.
Bharat Forge said the collaboration is part of its aerospace activities and aligns with efforts to expand domestic capabilities in aerospace and defence manufacturing. The company’s role will include engineering work related to installation and system interfaces.
The programme involves a high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft being designed and developed by DRDO. Such aircraft are intended for extended surveillance, intelligence and reconnaissance activities across land and maritime areas.
Amit Kalyani, Vice Chairman and Joint Managing Director of Bharat Forge, said the company’s aerospace business would work with Pratt & Whitney Canada on the programme as part of its efforts to develop India’s aerospace and defence manufacturing capabilities.
Ashish Saraf, Vice President and Country Head of Pratt & Whitney, said the company would evaluate its turboprop technology for the programme and highlighted the engines’ established use in demanding operating environments.
The collaboration adds to Bharat Forge’s activities in aerospace, where its business focuses on the development and manufacture of aerospace, defence and marine systems, structures and components.
Bharat Forge, headquartered in Pune, has operations spanning automotive, aerospace, defence, rail, marine, energy and industrial sectors. Its aerospace business works on systems and components while also pursuing collaborations with international aerospace companies.
source:Bharat Forge and RTX’s Pratt & Whitney Canada to Explore Turboprop Engines for India’s Indigenous HALE UAV Programme – Bharat Forge
