DRDO Successfully Tests Indigenous High-Altitude Platform

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted the flight trial of its indigenously developed High-Altitude Platform (HAPS), reaching an altitude of 21 km above mean sea level. During the trial, the platform remained at an altitude of 20 km for more than 30 minutes before being brought back to the ground. The system was successfully recovered and its flight performance data was analysed.

DRDO said real-time video and other vehicle parameters were continuously received at the Ground Control Station throughout the flight, confirming the platform’s intended performance. The system carried several instrumentation and control packages, including an inertial measurement unit, Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, onboard cameras, altitude control mechanism and other subsystems. The trial was conducted in coordination with the Indian Air Force (IAF), Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC), Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Airports Authority of India (AAI) and other civil authorities.

The High-Altitude Platform is a lighter-than-air system being developed by the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra, as a long-endurance stratospheric aerial surveillance platform. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the IAF, public sector undertakings and industry partners on the successful trial, describing it as an important milestone in India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat journey towards developing a long-endurance stratospheric airship. Defence Secretary, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and DRDO Chairman Rajesh Kumar Singh also congratulated the teams associated with the successful flight trial.