DRDO Successfully Conducts Maiden Flight of Stratospheric Airship Platform

On May 3, 2025, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the maiden flight-trials of its Stratospheric Airship Platform from Sheopur in Madhya Pradesh. Developed by the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra, the airship reached an altitude of approximately 17 kilometers, marking a significant milestone in India’s pursuit of advanced surveillance and high-altitude platforms for long-endurance missions.

Why in News?

The DRDO conducted its first successful flight trial of a Stratospheric Airship Platform on May 3, 2025. The airship reached a stratospheric altitude of around 17 km, tested multiple subsystems, and was successfully recovered. This breakthrough enhances India’s Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR) and earth observation capabilities.

Key Features and Objectives of the Trial

• Development Agency: Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra
• Trial Location: Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh
• Altitude Achieved: ~17 kilometers (Stratospheric level)
• Duration of Flight: ~62 minutes
• Payload: Instrumental payload to collect atmospheric and performance data

Onboard Systems Tested

• Envelop pressure control system
• Emergency deflation system
• Purpose: To evaluate system performance and gather data for simulation models and future missions.

Significance of the Stratospheric Airship

Stratospheric Platforms operate between 15–25 km altitude, offering a unique advantage over satellites and drones in terms of,

• Persistent surveillance
• Lower cost and risk
• Flexibility in deployment and recovery

Strategic Uses

• Earth observation
• Border surveillance
• Disaster management
• Environmental monitoring
• Communication relays

Statements from Leadership

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh

• Congratulated DRDO and emphasized that the platform would enhance India’s indigenous ISR capabilities, placing India among a select group of nations with such technological advancement.

DRDO Chairman Dr. Samir V Kamat

• Lauded the prototype as a significant milestone towards realizing lighter-than-air (LTA), high-altitude platforms capable of very long endurance missions.