DRDO Chairman Samir v Kamat | Photo credit: Anni
India successfully conducted a flight review on Saturday for the maidens of the stratospheric airship platform, which is being developed to increase the military’s surveillance capabilities.
Few in the world have developed such a complex platform, officials said.
The flight trial was conducted by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) in Shepur, Madhya Pradesh.
DRDO Chairman Samir v Kamat said the prototype flight was a “milestone” towards the realization of a lighter, higher-altitude platform system that could maintain the air due to extremely long endurance at stratospheric heights.
According to the Ministry of Defense, the airship platform was launched with instrument payloads to altitudes of approximately 17 km.
The success of the platform’s flight trial occurred amid an escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan over the Pahargam terrorist attacks.
Defense Minister Rajnassin congratulated DRDO for a successful flight trial of the system’s maiden.
He said the system has uniquely strengthened India’s Earth’s observation and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, making it one of the few countries in the world, with such indigenous capabilities.
“DRDO successfully conducted a maiden flight trial of the stratospheric airship platform from Sheopur Trial Site in Madhya Pradesh on May 3,” the Ministry of Defense said.
The airship, developed by the Agra-based air delivery research and development facility, said it was launched by carrying the instrument’s payload to an altitude of approximately 17 km.
“Data from onboard sensors will be received and used to develop high-quality fidelity simulation models for future high-altitude airship flights,” the ministry said in a statement.
“For performance assessment, a pressure control and emergency deflationary system was deployed during flight. The trial team restored the system for further investigation. The total flight duration was about 62 minutes.”
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Released on May 4, 2025
