India has launched a ₹15,000-crore programme to develop indigenous stratospheric airships that can carry out long-duration surveillance and intelligence missions. The project aims to strengthen the country's defence capabilities with advanced high-altitude platforms built in India. The government will work with private aerospace companies to develop these airships under the Airship-based High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (AS-HAPS) programme.

The Directorate of Operations (Remote) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) is leading the programme, according to a report by The Economic Times. Under the project, the government will select private industry partners to build prototype airships that can operate at altitudes above 20 kilometres. These airships will stay in the stratosphere for several months while carrying out surveillance, intelligence gathering and communication missions.

The government has approved the programme under the Make-I procurement route. This model allows the Centre to fund up to 70 per cent of the research and development cost. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the proposal in February. The total programme is estimated at ₹15,000 crore. This amount includes the development of the technology and the future procurement of an unspecified number of systems.

Several Indian aerospace companies have already been approached for the programme. According to the report, the government is likely to shortlist at least two development partners. Officials will evaluate companies on the basis of their technical capabilities and financial strength before making the final selection.

The AS-HAPS platform will operate in the stratosphere at altitudes above 20 kilometres. It will fill the gap between high-altitude drones and satellites. High-altitude drones usually operate at around 12 kilometres, while low Earth orbit satellites remain between 500 kilometres and 2,000 kilometres above the Earth's surface. The new airships will provide long-duration coverage from a much lower altitude than satellites while staying airborne far longer than drones.

The airships will carry radar systems, optical surveillance equipment and electronic intelligence payloads. They will monitor large areas for long periods and support defence operations with continuous data collection. The government also plans to develop these sensors within the country. The platform will have the ability to move towards areas of operational interest whenever required. This feature will allow defence forces to quickly respond to changing situations.

Along with the airship programme, the Ministry of Defence has also started work on another High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) project. This initiative focuses on fixed-wing platforms that can take off from the ground and carry out long-range missions. These aircraft will add another layer to India's high-altitude surveillance capabilities.

The latest programme follows a major technology milestone achieved by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in May 2025. DRDO successfully completed the maiden flight trial of its Stratospheric Airship Platform from the Sheopur trial site in Madhya Pradesh.

The Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE) in Agra developed the platform. During the trial, the airship carried an instrumental payload to an altitude of around 17 kilometres. The flight lasted for 62 minutes and demonstrated several important technologies required for future high-altitude missions.

The Defence Ministry said data gathered from onboard sensors would help researchers build high-fidelity simulation models for future stratospheric airship missions. The ministry also stated that engineers tested the envelope pressure control system and the emergency deflation system during the flight. The team successfully recovered the platform after completing the mission and will use it for further analysis and improvements.

India is not the only country investing in high-altitude platforms. Several nations are developing similar technologies to improve surveillance and communication capabilities. Europe is working on the EUROHAPS programme and Thales Alenia's Stratobus project. The United States has also demonstrated comparable systems, although it has not inducted them into operational service. China is actively pursuing high-altitude airship technology as well, though very little information about its progress is available publicly.

India's new programme reflects its focus on building advanced defence technology within the country. The project also supports greater participation from the private sector in strategic defence manufacturing. If successful, the AS-HAPS platform will provide the armed forces with a reliable surveillance system that can remain in the stratosphere for extended periods, gather critical intelligence and improve long-range communication. The initiative also marks another step towards strengthening indigenous defence capabilities through advanced aerospace technology developed in India.