AkashDeep To Be Made Bigger And Better

After successfully demonstrating the Akashdeep aerostat system, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will develop a bigger and better aerostat system with additional payload. DRDO chief controller, R&D (Aerospace & Services Interaction) Dr Prahlada told that the new aerostat system will be bigger in size compared to the medium-range Akashdeep.

India's new eye in the sky can carry out surveillance up to a radius of 450-500kms and is being developed based on the feedback from the Air Force and the Army received during the Aero India 2011. The new system will be used by the army and paramilitary forces.

Dr Prahlada said paramilitary forces have showed interest in the aerostat which can be used for surveillance activities in the Maoist-infested areas.

The aerostat system, to be developed by the Agra based by Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), will be equipped with a wide range of payloads. It can carry out surveillance during night and in low-visibility condition and also intercept a variety of communication.

The aerostats gimbals, with 360 degree azimuth freedom, can carry out steering, scanning and tracking with high precision.

Defence experts say the deployment of aerostats at the borders along with the Airborne Early Warning & Control System (AEW&C) will redefine the battle surveillance capabilities as armed forces can neutralise attacks from adversaries well in advance.

In addition to the aerostat, India's indigenous Airborne Early Warning & Control System (AEW&C) which is being built on a modified Embraer EMB-145 aircraft in Brazil will be brought to India in August, said Prahlada.

The modified aircraft will be integrated with Active-Array Antenna Unit, mission systems, radar, etc by the Bangalore- based Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS).

"Following the integration the first flight is expected to take place in January next year," he added.

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The system has been designed, developed and integrated by the Aerial Delivery Research & Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra Cantt

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The system was successfully test flown up to one km altitude at Agra over several days. Trials of the system were concluded on Saturday, December 25, 2010.


The aerostat carried out surveillance all over Agra and intercepted a variety of communications.


ADRDE has earlier worked on parachutes, lighter than air systems, floatation systems and aircraft arrester barriers. It has developed and supplied various types of parachutes for wide range of applications viz. Paradropping men, weapons, Combat Vehicles, Stores etc, braking of fighter Aircraft and Recovery of payloads pertaining to missiles, UAV and space missions.


Over the last few years, ADRDE has diversified into the field of lighter-than-Air (LTA) technologies and developed small and medium size Aerostats.