India successfully tests high-altitude surveillance airship
During the experimental flight conducted by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
India has successfully flight-tested an indigenously developed high-altitude surveillance airship capable of long-duration operations, the country's Defence Ministry said today (6 October).
During the experimental flight conducted by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the high-altitude platform reached 21km above mean sea level and remained at an altitude of 20km for more than half an hour before being instructed to return to the ground, the ministry said in a statement.
The system was equipped with instrumentation and control electronic packages, including an inertial measurement unit, a Global Positioning System receiver, onboard cameras, an altitude control system and other subsystems.
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It was successfully recovered after the flight, and the flight performance data was analysed.
Real-time video data from the platform and other vehicle parameters were received at the ground control station throughout the flight. The data confirmed that the platform's performance was in line with specifications, according to the statement.
"The high-altitude platform - a lighter-than-air system - is being designed and developed as a stratospheric aerial surveillance platform capable of long-duration operations by the Agra-based Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE)," the ministry said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the successful test marked an important milestone in India's effort to develop a stratospheric airship capable of long-term operations.
the high-altitude platform reached 21km above mean sea level and remained at an altitude of 20km for more than half an hour before being instructed to return to the ground, the ministry said in a statement.
The system was equipped with instrumentation and control electronic packages, including an inertial measurement unit, a Global Positioning System receiver, onboard cameras, an altitude control system and other subsystems.
It was successfully recovered after the flight, and the flight performance data was analysed.
Real-time video data from the platform and other vehicle parameters were received at the ground control station throughout the flight. The data confirmed that the platform's performance was in line with specifications, according to the statement.
"The high-altitude platform - a lighter-than-air system - is being designed and developed as a stratospheric aerial surveillance platform capable of long-duration operations by the Agra-based Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE)," the ministry said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the successful test marked an important milestone in India's effort to develop a stratospheric airship capable of long-term operations.
