The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted the flight trial of an indigenously developed High-Altitude Platform (HAPS), with the experimental flight reaching 21 km above mean sea level (AMSL) and maintaining an altitude of 20 km for more than 30 minutes before being brought down and successfully recovered.
The flight performance was monitored in real time at the Ground Control Station, where video and vehicle-parameter data were received throughout the trial, a Ministry of Defence press release said. The platform carried an inertial measurement unit, GPS receiver, onboard cameras, an altitude-control mechanism and other instrumentation and control systems.
The trial was conducted in coordination with the Indian Air Force, CEMILAC, DGCA, Airports Authority of India and other civil authorities, the release said.
The HAPS, a lighter-than-air, long-endurance stratospheric aerial surveillance platform, is being designed and developed by DRDO’s Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the IAF, PSUs and industry involved in the trial, describing it as an important milestone in India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat journey towards developing a long-endurance stratospheric airship.
Defence Secretary, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO, Rajesh Kumar Singh, also congratulated the teams involved in the successful flight trial.
-PIB Inputs
