The Jetpack suit, displayed at the Aero India Show 2023 and manufactured by Absolute Composite Private Limited, has caught attention for its uniqueness and is in the running for a contract with the armed forces.
Indian armed forces are all set to test the suit manufactured by this Bengaluru start-up which will enable soldiers to fly like birds and carry out missions in March. The Indian Armed Forces has placed a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the procurement of 48 jet suits on a trial basis. If they pass the test, the Army would initiate large-scale procurement.
Manufactured by Absolute Composite Private Limited, based in Bengaluru, the jetpack suit has used five engines, including the turbo engine at the back.
The suit weighs three kilograms and can fly 80 kilogram weighing soldiers. It has the capability to fly 10 kilometres in 10 minutes. The research into increasing fuel efficiency in terms of mileage is ongoing. It is expected to be handy in Army operations in impassable and inaccessible landscapes and can be useful in times of natural calamities, landslides, fire emergencies, and building collapse. It could be used as a drone or helicopter to cross rivers or broken bridges.
As per the company, the jet suit has 70 percent indigenous components, and efforts are on for total indigenous content. It is powered by a gas turbine and can lift a soldier up to a height of 10 to 15 metres with a top speed of 50 kilometres per hour. Raghav Reddy, Managing Director of Absolute Composites, stated that it is the most compact flying machine that has ever been built. It has taken two years of time to manufacture the product. The wearable jetpack consists of a backpack with a diesel tank and electronics. The tank capacity is 30 liters, and it is configurable.
