DRDO successfully tests maiden flight trials of Stratoshperic Airship platform
The DRDO has conducted its first flight trials of a stratospheric airship in Madhya Pradesh, reaching an altitude of 17 km. Data collected will aid in developing advanced simulation models for future flights, enhancing India's reconnaissance capabilities.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted the maiden flight trials of its stratospheric airship platform from the Sheopur trial site in Madhya Pradesh, according to an official statement.
The Defence Ministry said on Saturday “Developed by Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment, Agra, the airship was launched carrying an instrumental payload to an altitude of around 17 km.”
As per an official release, data from onboard sensors was received and would be utilised for development of high-quality fidelity simulation models for future high-altitude airship flights.
In a post on X, DRDO said, “DRDO successfully conducts maiden flight trial of Stratospheric Airship with instrumental payload to an altitude of around 17 kms. This lighter than air system will enhance India’s earth observation and Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance capabilities, making the country one of the few countries in the world having such indigenous capabilities.”
“Envelop pressure control and emergency deflation systems were deployed in flight for their performance evaluation. Trial team recovered the system for further investigation. The total duration of the flight was about 62 minutes,” an official release by the Ministry of Defence added.
“Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh has congratulated DRDO for the successful maiden flight-trial of the system. He stated that this system will uniquely enhance India's earth observation and Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance capabilities, making the country one of the few countries in the world having such indigenous capabilities,” the release read.
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Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat congratulated the DRDO team involved in design, development and trial of the system. He said the prototype flight is a milestone towards realisation of lighter-than-air high-altitude platform systems that can remain airborne for very long endurance at stratospheric heights.
(With inputs from ANI)
- The successful flight trial demonstrates India's advancements in indigenous aerospace technology.
- Stratospheric airships can provide long-duration surveillance capabilities, crucial for national defense.
- Data from the flight will inform future developments of high-altitude airship systems.
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