India Conducts Maiden Flight of Stratospheric Airship Platform
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the maiden flight of its Stratospheric Airship Platform from its trial site in Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh on Saturday. This marks a significant milestone in India’s aerial surveillance technology.
The platform, developed by the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE) in Agra, carried a payload of instruments and climbed to around 17 kilometers above the Earth. Data from onboard sensors will be used to improve future simulation models for high-altitude airship missions.
During the flight, pressure control and emergency deflation systems were tested to ensure their performance. After a 62-minute flight, the trial team recovered the airship for further study.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO scientists, stating that the new system will boost India’s capabilities in earth observation, intelligence, and surveillance. He noted that very few countries currently possess indigenous high-altitude airship technology.
DRDO Chairman Dr Samir V Kamat also hailed the flight, highlighting that the prototype is a step towards developing long-endurance, lighter-than-air platforms that can stay in the stratosphere for extended periods.
Meanwhile, the Defence Ministry announced that India is in the process of procuring a next-generation Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS (NG)), which should be able to engage aerial targets "both by day and night" and under all weather conditions, including in snow-bound locations.
Reference : https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-conducts-first-trial-flight-of-stratospheric-airship-platform-enhancing-aerial-surveillance/articleshow/120866252.cms
