Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Tuesday successfully conducted a high-speed rocket-sled test of a fighter aircraft escape system at a controlled velocity, validating canopy severance, ejection sequencing, and full aircrew recovery. The test was carried out at the Rail Track Rocket Sled facility of the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory in Chandigarh.
The trial, conducted in collaboration with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), places India among the few nations with advanced in-house testing capabilities for fighter aircraft escape systems.
Dynamic ejection tests, like this one, are more complex than static tests such as Net tests or Zero-Zero tests and provide a real measure of ejection seat performance and canopy severance efficacy. Using a dual-sled system with the forebody of the LCA aircraft, the test was conducted at precisely controlled velocities through phased firing of multiple solid propellant rocket motors.
An instrumented Anthropomorphic Test Dummy simulated the aircrew, recording critical loads, moments, and accelerations experienced during ejection. The complete sequence was captured using onboard and ground-based imaging systems. The test was witnessed by officials from the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Institute of Aerospace Medicine.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, IAF, ADA, HAL, and the industry partners, calling the successful test a significant milestone in India’s indigenous defence capabilities and a step towards self-reliance.
Dr. Samir V Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO, also lauded the team for the successful demonstration.