DRDO Successfully Tests Stratospheric Airship Platform (SAP)

1. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has conducted the first successful flight trials of the Stratospheric Airship Platform (SAP).
2. With this achievement, India joins a select group of nations possessing indigenous high-altitude platform systems.
3. The SAP has been developed by Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), located in Agra.
4. It is aimed at boosting India’s earth observation and Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.

What is the Stratospheric Airship Platform (SAP)?

1. SAP is a high-altitude, unmanned airship designed to function in the stratosphere, typically between 17 to 22 kilometers above the Earth’s surface.
2. It operates as a High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS), offering extended-duration missions from high altitudes.
3. HAPS platforms are broadly divided into aerodynamic types (like fixed-wing aircraft) and aerostatic types (like balloons and airships).
4. SAP belongs to the aerostatic category, using helium gas to generate buoyant lift.
5. It is primarily solar-powered, with onboard batteries to ensure continuous operation during nighttime.

Why is SAP Strategically Important?

1. Unlike conventional satellites or aircraft, SAP can hover over a specific location for days or even weeks.
2. It provides persistent surveillance, real-time communication, and long-duration observation over targeted zones.
3. It is equipped to carry various payloads, including imaging sensors, radars, and telecom equipment.
4. These capabilities make SAP highly valuable for border monitoring, disaster management, and intelligence gathering.

It effectively bridges the operational gap between drones and satellites, offering space-like services with faster deployment, greater flexibility, and lower operational costs.

 

Also Read
NCERT Books For UPSC	UPSC Daily Current Affairs
UPSC Monthly Magazine	Best IAS Coaching in Delhi
Free MCQs for UPSC Prelims	UPSC Test Series
ENSURE IAS NOTES	Our Booklist