Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

India launches first indigenous Aerostat surveillance system

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New Delhi, Dec 29, IRNA -- India's first indigenously Aerostat Surveillance System has been successfully launched at Agra.

The aerostat will be used for communication and surveillance. The platform integrates high-end technology, aerodynamics, balloon techniques, hydraulics and high-pressure cylinder technology,

The helium-filled aerostat which has night vision cameras and sound recorders, weighs around 300 kg, and can be reused.

The aerostat can survey areas upto 20 km away and with advanced cameras, its range can go beyond 100 kms.

The system has been designed, developed and integrated by India’s Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra Cantt, a premier laboratory under the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), said an official release issued here.

On the Christmas Day, December 25, scientists at ADRDE in Agra carried out surveillance all over Agra and intercepted a variety of communications by flying the aerostat up to an altitude of one km. The complete balloon system, ground-based command and control systems and the payloads were integrated for the three-day trial that culminated on Tuesday.

The system will be useful for three services and has civilian applications including disaster management.

This milestone comes in the wake of new generation high altitude aerostats/airships that will be developed by DRDO.

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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30159084