The stratospheric lighter-than-air platform, developed in Agra, climbed to 21 km and held 20 km for over half an hour, marking progress in India's long-endurance aerial surveillance capability.

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• DRDO announced on October 6, 2026 the successful flight trial of its indigenously developed High-Altitude Platform System, known as HAPS.
• HAPS is a lighter-than-air, long-endurance stratospheric platform designed for aerial surveillance.
• During the experimental flight, the platform climbed to an altitude of 21 km above mean sea level.
• It then maintained an altitude of about 20 km for more than 30 minutes.
• The airship was commanded to descend and was recovered successfully, after which its flight performance data was analysed.
• Real-time video and other vehicle parameters reached the ground control station throughout the flight, showing the intended performance.
• The platform was designed and developed by the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment, a DRDO laboratory in Agra.
• The trial was conducted in coordination with agencies including the Indian Air Force and the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the IAF, public sector undertakings and industry partners involved in the trial.
• He described the flight as an important milestone in the Aatmanirbhar Bharat drive towards a long-endurance stratospheric airship.
• Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh also congratulated the teams associated with the successful flight trial.
• Such platforms are meant to provide persistent aerial coverage at very high altitudes for extended periods.

Tags: DRDO, HighAltitudePlatform, StratosphericAirship