Indian Air Force's next big defence bet: Stratospheric airships for surveillance and intelligence
IAF has initiated a major project to develop stratospheric airships, known as Airship-Based High Altitude Pseudo Satellites (AS-HAPS), to enhance its surveillance and intelligence-gathering power
The Indian Air Force is advancing its intelligence and surveillance capabilities through the development of stratospheric airships under the Airship-Based High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (AS-HAPS) project, a government-funded initiative with up to 70% of R&D costs covered, projected to cost approximately ₹15,000 crore, and being pursued under the Make-I procurement procedure. This project, aimed at developing airships capable of operating above 20 km for optical surveillance, electronic intelligence, and long-range communication, has attracted interest from several private Indian firms who will be selected based on technical and financial prowess, with the government also intending to develop sensors indigenously, building on a successful test flight by the DRDO in May 2025. The AS-HAPS will fill a gap between drones and satellites, offering continuous intelligence gathering by remaining airborne for extended periods and relaying data, complementing a separate plan to develop fixed-wing High Altitude Pseudo Satellites.
The Indian Air Force is advancing its intelligence and surveillance capabilities through the development of stratospheric airships under the Airship-Based High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (AS-HAPS) project, a government-funded initiative with up to 70% of R&D costs covered, projected to cost approximately ₹15,000 crore, and being pursued under the Make-I procurement procedure. This project, aimed at developing airships capable of operating above 20 km for optical surveillance, electronic intelligence, and long-range communication, has attracted interest from several private Indian firms who will be selected based on technical and financial prowess, with the government also intending to develop sensors indigenously, building on a successful test flight by the DRDO in May 2025. The AS-HAPS will fill a gap between drones and satellites, offering continuous intelligence gathering by remaining airborne for extended periods and relaying data, complementing a separate plan to develop fixed-wing High Altitude Pseudo Satellites.
The Indian Air Force is advancing its intelligence and surveillance capabilities through the development of stratospheric airships under the Airship-Based High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (AS-HAPS) project, a government-funded initiative with up to 70% of R&D costs covered, projected to cost approximately ₹15,000 crore, and being pursued under the Make-I procurement procedure. This project, aimed at developing airships capable of operating above 20 km for optical surveillance, electronic intelligence, and long-range communication, has attracted interest from several private Indian firms who will be selected based on technical and financial prowess, with the government also intending to develop sensors indigenously, building on a successful test flight by the DRDO in May 2025. The AS-HAPS will fill a gap between drones and satellites, offering continuous intelligence gathering by remaining airborne for extended periods and relaying data, complementing a separate plan to develop fixed-wing High Altitude Pseudo Satellites.
In an attempt to enhance the Indian Air Force's (IAF) surveillance and intelligence-gathering capabilities, the Directorate of Operations (Remote) has initiated a plan to develop stratospheric airships.
According to a report in The Economic Times, several private firms are vying for the project, which will involve government funding of up to 70 per cent of the research and development costs.
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) under the Ministry of Defence had cleared the project, estimated to cost around ₹15,000 crore, including development costs and the procurement of an unspecified number of systems.
The Airship-Based High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (AS-HAPS) project is being undertaken under the Make-I procurement procedure, according to The Economic Times report.
The IAF is looking for a prototype airship capable of operating at altitudes of over 20 km to carry out optical surveillance, electronic intelligence gathering and long-range communications.
Besides this, the defence ministry has also initiated a plan to develop fixed-wing High Altitude Pseudo Satellites (HAPS) that can take off from the ground and carry out long-range missions.
The Economic Times quoted sources as saying that several Indian aerospace firms have been approached for the project. At least two development partners will be selected based on their technical capabilities and financial strength.
The AS-HAPS is designed to operate at altitudes above 20 km, between high-altitude drones and low-Earth-orbit satellites. It can relay data from ground networks to satellites and remain airborne for months, providing continuous intelligence.
It will carry radars and optical sensors for long-range surveillance. The government is also aiming to develop these sensors indigenously.
Although no private Indian company has yet demonstrated this technology, government funding is expected to spur competition. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested the system in May 2025 by flying an airship to an altitude of about 17 km over Madhya Pradesh with an instrumented payload.