State PCS - Madhya Pradesh (MP PCS)

• 06 May 2025

India's First Stratospheric Airship

Why in News? 

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the maiden test flight of the Stratospheric Airship Platform from its testing facility in Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh. 

Key Points 

• About Airship:  
  • Developed by the Agra-based Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), this airship platform can be deployed in the stratosphere at an altitude of about 17 km. 
  • It can remain stable at one place for a long time and has the ability to send real time data . 
    • The stratosphere is a layer of the Earth's atmosphere that lies above the troposphere and below the mesosphere, ranging in altitude from about 10 to 50 km. 
    • It provides a stable atmosphere different from weather changes on Earth, making the region a suitable for satellites and other high-altitude equipment. 
  • Structure:  
    • This airship is equipped with lightweight and highly sensitive technologies, giving it the capability to operate at high-altitudes. 
    • It is equipped with state-of-the-art payloads and sensor systems for ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Recon) missions. 
    • The system can be safely recovered after the mission, allowing for longer periods of operation. 
• Strategic Use: 
  • This airship strengthens the surveillance capability of the security forces by remaining beyond the range of radar . 
  • This platform can prove to be extremely useful for military operations in inaccessible and sensitive areas such as Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh. 
  • This technology is much more efficient and sustainable than traditional monitoring systems. 
  • It can give accurate information about enemy activities covering a wide area.  

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) 

• About: 
  • DRDO is the research and development arm of the Ministry of Defence aimed at empowering India in cutting-edge defence technologies. 
  • Efforts towards self-reliance and successful indigenous development and production of strategic systems and platforms like Agni and Prithvi missile series, light combat aircraft Tejas, multi-barrel rocket launcher Pinaka, air defence system Akash, a wide range of radars and electronic warfare systems etc. have enhanced India's military capabilities. 
• Formation: 
  • It was formed in 1958 by the integration of the Technical Development Establishments (TDEs) and Directorate of Technical Development & Production (DTDP) of the Indian Army and the Defence Science Organisation (DSO) . 
  • DRDO is a network of more than 50 laboratories intensively engaged in development of defence technologies covering various disciplines such as aeronautics, armament, electronics, combat vehicles, engineering systems etc.