Context:
DRDO conducts maiden flight-trials of Stratospheric Airship Platform (SAP)
Stratospheric Airship Platform (SAP):
- A high-altitude, unmanned airship developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
- First Flight Success: India joins select nations with indigenous high-altitude platform systems.
- Developer: Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (Agra).
- Purpose: Enhances India’s earth observation and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.
- Function: Works as a High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS), capable of extended flight durations.
- Altitude Range: Operates between 17 to 22 kilometers above Earth.
- Types of HAPS:
- Aerodynamic (Heavier-than-air) – Fixed-wing aircraft
- Aerostatic (Lighter-than-air) – Balloons and airships
- Lift Mechanism: Uses helium buoyancy for altitude control.
- Strategic Advantages: Provides persistent surveillance, communication support, and border monitoring at lower costs compared to satellites.
Source: PIB
Previous Year Question
What is “Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)”, sometimes seen in the news?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2018 Prelims]
(a) An Israeli radar system
(b) India’s indigenous anti-missile programme
(c) An American anti-missile system
(d) A defence collaboration between Japan and South Korea
Answer: (c)