Agra lab’s airship ready to keep eye on Pak border.

[SR-91]

Four years after Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE) indigenously developed Akashdeep, a medium-sized aerostat system for aerial surveillance, the laboratory run by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has completed trials of an improved version that is ready to be deployed along the Pakistan border. Nakshatra, the new system, consists of an aerostat (an unmanned helium-filled airship) and a surveillance system. It has been tested for five months in all weather conditions and is ready to be handed over to defence users, including the army and Border Security Force. Only a handful of other countries, such as the US, Germany, France and Japan have developed such systems. A senior ADRDE official told TOI that Nakshatra is bigger than Akashdeep and can carry equipment such as sensors and radar weighing up to 300kg. It is fitted with high-definition cameras for detailed shots and infra red cameras for night vision. The device can remain airborne for 14 days before requiring a helium refill. “It has been primarily developed for watching sensitive borders, and can conduct 360-degree surveillance from a height of up to 1km,” the officer said, adding that it can be used during peacetime also. Nakshatra makes use of new technologies related to balloon design, fabrics, etc and is a step forward in the ‘Make in India’ drive. Officials said ADRDE has already started working on Nakshatra-II, its next-generation aerostat system.

..http://idrw.org . Read more at India No 1 Defence News Website , Kindly don http://idrw.org/agra-labs-airship-ready-to-keep-eye-on-pak-border/ .

 

[DesiGuy1403]

With such low altitudes and it's apparent low mobility, wouldn't this be an easy target?!

 

[nair]

With such low altitudes and it's apparent low mobility, wouldn't this be an easy target?!

Yeah it can be an easy target..... But during peacetime i guess this would be good option considering the scenarios at our border....

 

[shah1398]

So basically it is suppose to augment the AEW systems? Wud it be integrated to AD setup or used as stand alone system? Any info on range/type of Radar and surveillance system onboard?

 

[tsinga]

With such low altitudes and it's apparent low mobility, wouldn't this be an easy target?!

Very easy. Which is why it would be placed in air force bases near the border which are automatically surrounded by Air defense systems.

 

[1971+]

I guess 1km. above sea level
and if it's that then it can't be of much use in hilly areas.To negate any significant drifts due to wind , I guess it would be kept tethered to ground as well.

How far they can look into enemy territory would determine it's chances of surviving . Anything less than 8-10 kms will make it a easy target but if it's cameras can penetrate beyond 10 km then PA can't touch it without crossing border or getting air borne, which is highly unlikely expect during major skirmish like Kargil or all out wars.

Please someone compare it against similar foreign Aerostats.

 

[kaonalpha]

It would be a shame if some one were to shoot the blimp down.

 

[guest11]

Good news. Cruise missile defence is really coming along.


These will work as early warning for low flying cruise missiles thus negating the most important feature of a subsonic cruise missile ie, to terrain hugging to avoid detection.

As for the survivability, these particular aerostats are to be used for local area defence of military installations and population centres in tadem with air defence not for frontline use as AWACS.

................................

The Indian Ministry of Defense issued a request for information (RFI) late last year for a batch of four, six or eight static, mobile or portable aerostat systems, and may soon make a request for proposal

The Indian RFI states that the aerostat should be “able to withstand Indian standard atmospheric conditions.” It asks for a maximum operating altitude of 15,000 feet, an active-array radar subsystem and a mooring system of marine grade anti-corrosive steel. It asks potential vendors to state the “maximum duration on station without any lifting gas refill during this period.”

http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2016-04-28/india-seeks-new-radar-carrying-aerostats

One of the contenders for this tender which has been operational in Indian service for more than a decade.

http://www.iai.co.il/Sip_Storage//FILES/6/41636.pdf

 

[Awesome Indian]

Some pics of Akashdeep aerostat

 

[knight11]

So basically it is suppose to augment the AEW systems? Wud it be integrated to AD setup or used as stand alone system? Any info on range/type of Radar and surveillance system onboard?

This will make the survellance of the border easy. The Aerostat shown in this picture is filled with hellium, and would be installed 1 km above the surface, and different payload are installed on it. The Aerodynamics of the Aerostat makes sure that it remains stable even in fast winds, and the fibre rope holds it with the ground. The fibre optics sends the signals of the payload to the ground control centre, which are manned, and also have a electric generation unit. The whole unit could be packed and loaded on the truck and could be deployed in the border quickly. As far as the payload is considered, the payload could be electronic survellance, visual, IR Camera, SIGNIT, IMINIT. This will help in the survellance of the large part, and there won't be any need for the watch tower, which itself is costly, and takes times for the installation and maintainence.

Usage is not only for the visual survellance, but during dark night IR camera, trapping mobile, wireless signals, and the whole setup could be linked with the centaralized HQ, making it robust and composite unit.

It would be a shame if some one were to shoot the blimp down.

Its not easy. I live in Agra and the picture shown above is close to my home. The aerostat is huge, and the Aerostat will be installed above 1 km in the air, and it does not means just close to the border fence. In case of the bullet hole, or any cheap shot, the aerostat could be brought down, and the hole could be easily patched, and extra hellium gas filled and again ready to go.

 

[kaonalpha]

This will make the survellance of the border easy. The Aerostat shown in this picture is filled with hellium, and would be installed 1 km above the surface, and different payload are installed on it. The Aerodynamics of the Aerostat makes sure that it remains stable even in fast winds, and the fibre rope holds it with the ground. The fibre optics sends the signals of the payload to the ground control centre, which are manned, and also have a electric generation unit. The whole unit could be packed and loaded on the truck and could be deployed in the border quickly. As far as the payload is considered, the payload could be electronic survellance, visual, IR Camera, SIGNIT, IMINIT. This will help in the survellance of the large part, and there won't be any need for the watch tower, which itself is costly, and takes times for the installation and maintainence.

Usage is not only for the visual survellance, but during dark night IR camera, trapping mobile, wireless signals, and the whole setup could be linked with the centaralized HQ, making it robust and composite unit.



Its not easy. I live in Agra and the picture shown above is close to my home. The aerostat is huge, and the Aerostat will be installed above 1 km in the air, and it does not means just close to the border fence. In case of the bullet hole, or any cheap shot, the aerostat could be brought down, and the hole could be easily patched, and extra hellium gas filled and again ready to go.

You're just gave our troops a perfect way to pass time on the border

 

[knight11]

You're just gave our troops a perfect way to pass time on the border

Do you know, the payload could also be remote controlled sniper gun.

 

[third eye]

The old shape of a Zeppelin again.

 

[Stephen Cohen]

I guess 1km. above sea level
and if it's that then it can't be of much use in hilly areas.To negate any significant drifts due to wind , I guess it would be kept tethered to ground as well.

How far they can look into enemy territory would determine it's chances of surviving . Anything less than 8-10 kms will make it a easy target but if it's cameras can penetrate beyond 10 km then PA can't touch it without crossing border or getting air borne, which is highly unlikely expect during major skirmish like Kargil or all out wars.

Please someone compare it against similar foreign Aerostats.

It can see upto a distance of 100 KM

http://defencenews.in/article/Made-...ed-by-ADRDE-Agra-Lab-ready-for-induction-5197

 

[Tripoli]

Lets hope no "accidents" happen.