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DRDO Achieves Major Milestone With Successful High-Altitude Airship Trial at 21 Km
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News18•06-10-2026, 17:00
DRDO Achieves Major Milestone With Successful High-Altitude Airship Trial at 21 Km
- •The Defence Research and Development Organisation successfully conducted a flight trial of an indigenously developed High-Altitude Platform (HAPS).
- •During the experimental flight, the platform reached an altitude of 21 km and successfully maintained a height of 20 km for over 30 minutes.
- •Real-time video feeds and critical vehicle parameters were continuously transmitted to a Ground Control Station throughout the mission.
- •The HAPS was equipped with advanced instrumentation including an inertial measurement unit, GPS receiver, onboard cameras, and an altitude control mechanism.
- •Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO and other involved agencies for this significant achievement under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Key Questions Answered
During the experimental flight, the high-altitude platform reached an altitude of 21 km above mean sea level and successfully maintained a height of 20 km for over 30 minutes.
The High-Altitude Platform is a lighter-than-air system developed by the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment, a DRDO laboratory located in Agra, for long-duration surveillance in the stratosphere.
The trial was conducted in coordination with the Indian Air Force, the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the Airports Authority of India, and other civil authorities.
