National Aerospace Laboratories
The National Aerospace Laboratories is an aerospace research institution in India, established by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research in Delhi in 1959. NAL collaborates with organizations such as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the Defence Research and Development Organisation, and the Indian Space Research Organisation. Its research focuses on civilian aircraft development and advanced topics in aerospace and related fields.
Based in Bengaluru, the NAL employs a staff of about 2500 people.
NAL is equipped with the Nilakantan Wind tunnel Centre and a computerized fatigue test facility company. NAL also has facilities for investigating failures and accidents in the aerospace engineering domain.
History
On 1 June 1959, the National Aeronautical Research Laboratory was set up in Delhi, with P Nilakantan as its first director. In March 1960, it set up an office in the stables of the Palace of Maharaja of Mysore in the Indian state of Karnataka, on Jayamahal Road, Bangalore, as the National Aeronautical Laboratory. The first Executive Council was chaired by J. R. D. Tata. Its members included Satish Dhawan and the designer V M Ghatage. Originally started as the National Aeronautical Laboratory, it was renamed National Aerospace Laboratories in April 1993. The renaming aimed to reflect its growing involvement in the Indian space program and its multidisciplinary activities.Flosolver
Flosolver was a series of Indian supercomputers designed and assembled by the NAL. Work began on the initial computer in 1986 to help with computational fluid dynamics.Current Projects
RTA-70 (Indian Regional Jet)
The HAL/NAL Regional Transport Aircraft or Indian Regional Jet is a regional airliner being designed by National Aerospace Laboratories and to be manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The aircraft is planned to be a turboprop or a jet with 80–100 passengers capacity. Its basic version will have 70–90 seatsThe 90-seater variant of the aircraft is being designed as of 2021 and is expected to enter service in 2026.
High-Altitude Platform (HAP)
The National Aerospace Laboratories has undertaken the High-Altitude Platform project in 2023. The development is parallel with a similar project — CATS Infinity — which is being developed by an Indian private sector firm, NewSpace Research & Technologies.In early February 2024, a of a scaled-down prototype was conducted at the Chitradurga Aeronautical Test Range. The UAV remained in air for about eight and a half hours while it achieved an altitude of. An additional trial was scheduled for the March where an endurance of 24 hours would be tested. During the scheduled 24 hour-long trial, the sequence of power generation along with the recharging of solar cells and batteries in the day and consuming the energy at night could be tested. While NAL will develop the technology and prototype, an industrial production partner would be engaged to commence the actual production of the aircraft.
In May 2024, NAL conducted another flight trial by utilising open-source autopilot system. This trial also lasted 8.5 hours but the UAV achieved an altitude of. During these trials, Bengaluru-based private space firm, GalaxEye, tested its Synthetic Aperture Radar technology on the HAP platform. A memorandum of understanding had been signed between NAL and GalaxEye with the aim of exploring the development, integration, and testing of SAR payloads for HAPS.
Between 8 and 13 May 2025, NAL completed multiple consecutive pre-monsoon flight trials of the HAP prototype at the Chitradurga Aeronautical Test Range. The prototype was equipped with an upgraded, certified autopilot system, known as "sensor redundant control system hardware". The system enables autonomous vehicle operation through custom control laws, navigation algorithms, and automated fail safes for all possible scenarios. NAL expects to have an operational full-scale HAP by the first quarter of 2026.
The existing scaled-down version is one-third the size of the proposed aircraft. The prototype has a length and wingspan of and, respectively. It has a weight of less than, carries a payload and can achieve an altitude ceiling of. Multiple tests of the scaled-down model will be conducted until 2027. Following these trials, the full-scale model will be developed which will have a wingspan of, altitude ceiling of and an endurance of 90 days.
Loitering Munition-UAV
This is a long range loitering munition project which is being developed by NAL in collaboration with a private sector firm, Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited. Under the project, NAL would transfer technology of its indigenously developed, CEMILAC-certified Wankel engine which will be followed by the joint development of the UAV. The -class UAV will have a range of over, service ceiling of and an endurance of 9 hours. The aircraft will have a low radar cross section. The development of and class engines for heavier UAVs is also underway with the earlier in testing and certification stage.Products
Aircraft
- NAL HANSA - Light-weight Trainer Aircraft
SARAS had its maiden flight on 29 May 2004. The aircraft took off at 08:15 and flew for about 25 minutes. SARAS is the first civilian aircraft designed and developed in India. Two prototypes have been built and flown by ASTE flight crew. The third prototype aircraft is under production at CSIR-NAL. Features include composite wing VERITy, empennage, rear pressure bulkhead, front fuselage top skin, and control surfaces. The aircraft will be equipped with an all-glass cockpit, including EICAS and 3-axis autopilot. It will be powered by 2x1200 SHP turboprop PT6A-67A engines driving 5-blade MT-Propellers. SARAS is capable of flying up to 30,000 ft and is capable of operation from short runways. Certification is in progress by CEMILAC and is to be completed by 2013. SARAS has been designed for many roles, including executive transport, light package carrier, remote sensing, air ambulance, etc.NAL NM5 - Five Seater - General Aviation Aircraft
C-NM5 is the country's first public-private partnership for the development of civil transport aircraft in collaboration with M/s Mahindra Aerospace Pvt Ltd (MAPL). On 1 September 2011, a milestone event for India's first public-private partnership in aircraft development and a bold dream became reality; C-NM5, designed & developed jointly by CSIR-NAL & Mahindra Aerospace, successfully undertook its first flight in Australia. C-NM5 is powered by a 300 HP piston engine driving a 3-blade propeller cruising at a speed of 160 knots with a maximum AUW of 1525 kg; a glass cockpit is a customer option. It is an ideal aircraft for air taxis, air ambulances, training, tourism, and cargo.