Medium Altitude Heavy Lift Unmanned Airship

planned

The Indian Air Force plans to build an indigenous hydrogen-powered unmanned airship designed for long endurance intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, heavy payloads, and multi-domain roles. The airship will have a hybrid lift and propulsion system based on hydrogen fuel with support from solar power, batteries, and fuel cells. It aims to carry payloads of at least 2,000 kg with a future goal of up to 5,000 kg, operate from sea level to 10,000 feet with a desirable target of 30,000 feet, and have an endurance of at least 10 days with a long-term goal of 30 days. It will also serve as a communication relay platform with line-of-sight range of at least 250 km or satellite communication support and operate in GNSS denied environments. The airship will be capable of auto launch and recovery from prepared and unprepared surfaces without the need for a runway.