The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted the maiden flight-trial of the Stratospheric Airship Platform from Sheopur in Madhya Pradesh. Developed by the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment in Agra, the airship ascended to nearly seventeen kilometres, carrying an instrumental payload.

The sixty-two-minute flight tested onboard systems such as envelope pressure control and emergency deflation, which performed as intended. Data from the sensors will help build advanced simulation models for future missions. The system was safely recovered for further analysis.

The new platform marks a step forward in India’s indigenous defence technology and high-altitude surveillance capabilities. It will contribute to earth observation and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations, placing India among a select group of countries with such strategic assets.

This prototype demonstrates progress toward long-endurance, lighter-than-air systems operating at stratospheric heights. The Ministry of Defence recognised this as a significant achievement in defence research and technology development.

Source:Press Information Bureau, Government of India