This review article presented a brief introduction and features of the Aerostat and the inflatable textile and polymeric materials used for developing envelope structure. Aerostat is basically an inflatable balloon fly at certain height and carries necessary items for collecting the ground information and transmitting the same to the defence source unit. The envelope used to fill with light air in pressurized condition to provide the desire lift. This review article also summarized various classes of aerostats, different components of aerostat, property requirements, fabrication methods and evaluation methods for the envelope structure. The functional features of various materials used for different components of aerostat meeting the very stringent requirements are briefly discussed. The aerostat was subjected to open environmental condition, hence the material selection for developing such structure with better durability was the matter of worry for the researchers for last few decades and some developments in this segment is evolved and brought out very broadly in this article. The fabrication methods for assembling together different layers of laminate structure and joining techniques for different parts of aerostat were also discussed. The different components of aerostat were developed with laminated fabrics of different aerial densities but with similar functions. This article also explained the different layers of the laminated fabrics with their material and functional features. The recent developments occurring worldwide and the status in Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) for developing envelope structure were explored.
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