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DRDO Successfully Tests Indigenously Developed High-Altitude Platform Reaching 21 km
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CNBC TV18•07-10-2026, 12:05
DRDO Successfully Tests Indigenously Developed High-Altitude Platform Reaching 21 km
- •DRDO successfully tested an indigenously developed High-Altitude Platform Station reaching an altitude of 21 km above sea level.
- •The unmanned platform stayed in the stratosphere at around 20 km for over 30 minutes before safely returning to the ground.
- •HAPS serves as a crucial middle ground between drones and satellites, offering continuous surveillance and communication capabilities.
- •The platform was developed by DRDO's Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment in Agra.
- •During the test, the system transmitted real-time video and flight data back to the Ground Control Station.
Key Questions Answered
The experimental High-Altitude Platform (HAPS) successfully attained an altitude of 21 km above mean sea level and remained at around 20 km for more than 30 minutes before being safely recovered on the ground.
The platform is being developed by the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE) located in Agra, which is a DRDO laboratory specializing in lighter-than-air systems.
During the test flight, the platform carried systems such as cameras, a GPS receiver, an inertial measurement unit, and an altitude-control system to help with navigation and transmit real-time video and flight data to a Ground Control Station.
