Up, Up, and Innovate! India’s Stratospheric Airship Takes Its First Giant Leap

India achieved a significant technological milestone with the successful first flight-trials of its domestically developed Stratospheric Airship Platform. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) carried out the flight on May 3 from the Sheopur trial site in Madhya Pradesh. Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE) Agra designed the airship, which flew to a height of about 17 kilometers with an instrumental payload.

 

During the 62-minute flight test, onboard sensors recorded valuable data to be used in the development of high-fidelity simulation models for future high-altitude airship missions. The flight was also supported by envelope pressure control and emergency deflation tests that were performed smoothly, with the airship recovered safely for future research.

 

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO scientists, saying that this achievement will uniquely augment India's earth observation and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capability. He added that India now joins an elite group of countries having such indigenous high-altitude airship technology.

 

Dr Samir V Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and DRDO Chairman, welcomed the prototype flight as a milestone towards the creation of lighter-than-air, high-altitude, long-endurance platforms at stratospheric heights. This achievement is a major milestone in India's advanced aerial surveillance and earth observation capabilities.

 

Source: Times of India