• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully carried out first flight-trial of a stratospheric airship platform.

• It is being developed to boost the military’s surveillance capabilities.

• Very few countries in the world have developed such a complex platform.

• The flight trial was carried out at Sheopur in Madhya Pradesh.

• The prototype flight is a milestone towards realisation of lighter-than-air high-altitude platform systems that can remain airborne for very long endurance at stratospheric heights.

• Developed by Agra-based Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment, the airship was launched carrying an instrumental payload to an altitude of around 17 km.

• Data from onboard sensors was received and would be utilised for development of high-quality fidelity simulation models for future high-altitude airship flights. 

• Envelop pressure control and emergency deflation systems were deployed in flight for their performance evaluation. 

• Trial team recovered the system for further investigation. The total duration of the flight was about 62 minutes.

• This system will uniquely enhance India’s Earth observation and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, making the country one of the few countries in the world having such indigenous capabilities.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)