DRDO Successfully Tests Fighter Aircraft Escape System at 800 km/h

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has achieved a significant milestone in indigenous fighter jet safety technology by successfully conducting a high-speed rocket-sled test of a fighter aircraft escape system. The dynamic test proved the mechanism’s ability to ensure a pilot’s safe ejection under extreme conditions.

🔬 Test Details and Validation

• Location: Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility of the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) in Chandigarh.
• Speed: The system was tested at a precisely controlled velocity of 800 km/h. This complex dynamic test simulates the real-world performance experienced by fighter jets in critical phases of flight, positioning India in an elite club of nations with advanced in-house escape system testing capability.
• Validation: The trial successfully validated three critical components of a modern escape system:
  1. Canopy Severance: The mechanism for safely removing or fragmenting the cockpit canopy.
  2. Ejection Sequencing: The precise, high-speed order of events that propels the seat clear of the aircraft.
  3. Complete Aircrew Recovery: The full process, including the deployment of parachutes and safe separation from the seat (simulated by an instrumented Anthropomorphic Test Dummy).
• Methodology: The test utilized a dual-sled system featuring the forebody of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas. This was propelled to the required speed using the phased firing of multiple solid propellant rocket motors.

The entire sequence, which showed the dummy pilot being successfully propelled clear of the cockpit, was captured through onboard and ground-based imaging systems for analysis.

Push for Self-Reliance

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the Indian Air Force, the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and industry partners on the achievement. The successful test is being hailed as a major milestone that strengthens India’s indigenous defense capabilities and advances the nation’s broader push toward self-reliance in critical aviation safety technologies.