What is the story about?
India has taken another step towards developing a persistent surveillance presence in the stratosphere, with the Defence Research and Development Organisation
successfully flight-testing an indigenously developed High-Altitude Platform (HAPS) at an altitude of 21 km. The experimental platform reached 21 km above mean sea level (AMSL) during the trial and subsequently maintained an altitude of 20 km for more than 30 minutes. It was then commanded to descend back to the ground and was successfully recovered, according to the Defence Ministry. The flight-performance data collected during the trial was subsequently analysed by the DRDO team.
HAPS reaches 21 km
The significance of the test lies not only in the altitude reached, but also in the platform’s ability to remain at a high altitude while transmitting data to operators on the ground. During the entire flight, the Ground Control Station received real-time video along with other vehicle parameters from the airborne platform. According to DRDO, the data indicated that the system delivered its intended flight performance.
The platform carried a range of instrumentation and control electronics, including an inertial measurement unit, GPS receiver, onboard cameras and an altitude-control mechanism, along with other supporting subsystems. The successful recovery of the system after maintaining its target altitude also provided the development team with flight-performance data for further analysis and refinement.
Built for stratospheric surveillance
The HAPS is being developed as a lighter-than-air, long-endurance stratospheric aerial surveillance platform. The programme is being led by the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra, a DRDO laboratory involved in the development of aerial delivery and related systems.
Unlike conventional aircraft that are designed for shorter-duration missions, high-altitude platforms are intended to operate at extreme altitudes for extended periods. The HAPS programme is aimed at developing an indigenous platform capable of providing persistent aerial surveillance from the stratosphere.
The latest flight therefore represents a key step in demonstrating the platform’s ability to reach and operate at the required altitude.
IAF and civil agencies involved
The trial was conducted in coordination with multiple defence and civil aviation agencies, including the Indian Air Force, Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC), Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Airports Authority of India (AAI) and other civil authorities.
The coordination was required to support the flight trial and ensure the platform could be operated safely within the relevant airspace.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the Indian Air Force, public sector undertakings and industry partners involved in the trial. He described the successful flight as an important milestone in India's Aatmanirbhar Bharat effort towards developing a long-endurance stratospheric airship.
Defence Secretary and DRDO Chairman Rajesh Kumar Singh also congratulated the teams involved in the flight trial. The successful test now gives DRDO additional flight data as it continues work on an indigenous high-altitude platform designed for persistent operations in the stratosphere.
