India Launches ₹15,000 Crore Stratospheric Airship Programme for Surveillance

India has launched a ₹15,000 crore programme to develop indigenous stratospheric airships for surveillance, intelligence, and long‑range communications. Overseen by the Indian Airforce Directorate of Operations (Remote), the AS‑HAPS platforms will operate above 20 km, carrying payloads for optical, electronic, and communications missions. Executed under the Make‑I route with 70% R&D funding, the effort builds on DRDO’s May 2025 trial and was approved by the Defence Acquisition Council in Feb 2026.