By A Correspondent

New Delhi: India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has held the successful flight trial of an indigenously developed High-Altitude Platform (HAPS). The experimental flight attained an altitude of 21 km above mean sea level (AMSL) and remained at an altitude of 20 km AMSL for more than 30 minutes, before it was commanded to descend back to ground. The system was successfully recovered and flight performance data was analysed.

The real-time video data and all other vehicle parameters were acquired from the airborne platform at the Ground Control Station during the entire flight, which showed intended flight performance. The system carried various instrumentation and control electronic packages like an inertial measurement unit, global positioning system receiver, onboard cameras, altitude control mechanism besides various other subsystems. The trial was conducted in coordination with various agencies, namely Indian Air Force, CEMILAC, DGCA, Airports Authority of India (AAI) and other civil authorities.

The High-Altitude Platform, a lighter-than-air system as a long-endurance stratospheric aerial surveillance platform, is being designed and developed by the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh complimented DRDO, IAF, PSUs and the industry on successful flight trial of High-Altitude Platform and stated that the successful trial is an important milestone in India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat journey towards realizing a long endurance stratospheric Airship. DRDO Chairman, Department of Defence Research & Development Secretary, and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh too congratulated the teams associated with the flight trial of high-altitude airship platform.

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