DRDO Successfully Tests Indigenous Stratospheric Airship

On 4th May 2025, DRDO conducted the maiden flight-trial of its Stratospheric Airship Platform from Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh, marking a significant leap in India’s surveillance capabilities.

Key Points

First Flight Success: The airship, developed by Aerial Delivery R&D Establishment (ADRDE), Agra, reached an altitude of ~17 km carrying an instrumental payload.
Data Collection: Sensor data from the flight will aid in creating high-fidelity simulation models for future missions.
Indigenous Capability: The achievement places India among a select group of nations with homegrown stratospheric airship technology.
Dual-Use Potential: The platform has future applications in both defence and civilian observation missions.