Akashdeep Aerostat system has been developed by Aerial Delivery Research & Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra Cantt, a laboratory under Defence Research & Development organization (DRDO) of India. It was the star exhibit at the 2011 Aero India show.^[1]

Description

The Akashdeep aerostat is a medium-sized (35 metres long, 23 metres high) helium-filled balloon with a volume of 2,000 cubic metres tethered to the ground with cables. It can carry a 300 kg payload to an altitude of 1,000 meters. It can survey areas up to 20 km away and with advanced cameras and radar, its range is variously reported as 60 km or 100 km. The aerostat can used for surveillance, intelligence, broadcasting communication relay and jamming of electronic systems,

Payload

Akashdeep aerostat system carry gyro-stabilized electro-optic and COMINT (communication intelligence) system for capturing and analyzing all types of communication in air and also have thermal camera for surveillance at night and in low visibility condition. Various other ELINT (electronic intelligence) and RADAR payloads are also being developed indigenously.

Development

DRDO has spent around Rs 70 crore on research and development of the device. It was under development for four years. A single fully developed unit is expected to cost Rs 16-20 crore each. The helium balloon is likely to be priced at Rs six to seven crore

Test Trial

On 25 December 2010, a prototype performed surveillance on Agra and intercepted a variety of communications by flying up to an altitude of one km. The complete balloon system, ground-based command and control systems and the payloads were integrated for the three-day trial that culminated on 28 December 2010. Health monitoring of aerostat and simultaneous command and controlling of payload from ground control station was demonstrated successfully. The test carried was of platform itself to carry limited payload having lighter sensors. A Radar variant similar to Aerostats fielded by the Indian Air Force, which was imported from Israel, will take time to develop and testing .

Deployment

The Akashdeep aerostat system is expected to be delivered to the armed forces in the near future. The system will be used by Indian defence services, paramilitary forces as well as have civilian applications including disaster management.

Variant

ADRDE plans to build a second type of aerostat system known as Nakshatra for up to a height of 4500-5,000 meters and having a range variously reported as 200 250 km or 450 km with a payload capacity of 800 kg to 1 tonne and 17,000 cubic metre volume.

References