Indigenous Stratospheric Airships for High-Altitude Surveillance

planned

India has launched a Rs 15,000 crore project to develop indigenous high-altitude airships capable of long-duration surveillance and intelligence-gathering missions. The project aims to develop Air Ship-based High Altitude Pseudo Satellites (AS-HAPS) operating above 20 kilometers altitude, carrying advanced payloads for optical surveillance, electronic intelligence, and long-range communications. The initiative is overseen by the Indian Air Force's Directorate of Operations (Remote) and executed under the government's Make-I procurement framework, which funds up to 70% of R&D costs for selected industry partners. The Defence Acquisition Council approved the program in February 2026, including prototype development and procurement of multiple systems.