The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted a high-speed rocket-sled test of an indigenous fighter aircraft escape system, the Ministry of Defence announced on Tuesday. The test marks a major milestone in India’s efforts to enhance pilot safety technology for homegrown fighter jets.
According to the ministry, the trial showcased the accuracy and reliability of the pilot-ejection mechanism under extreme conditions. The experiment was carried out at a precisely controlled speed of 800 km/h at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility of the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) in Chandigarh.
A video shared by the ministry captured the full sequence of the staged test. The footage shows the escape module being activated, after which the system successfully propels a dummy pilot clear of the cockpit — a crucial demonstration of how fighter pilots would be safely ejected during life-threatening emergencies.
The defence ministry said the trial validated three essential components of a modern escape system:
- Canopy severance
- Ejection sequencing
- Complete aircrew recovery
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and industry partners for the achievement. He termed it a significant step forward for India’s indigenous defence capabilities and an important contribution to the country’s broader mission of achieving self-reliance in strategic technologies.
This latest accomplishment adds to the growing emphasis on India’s defence-modernisation trajectory. Earlier in August, DRDO chairman Samir V. Kamat highlighted the increasing effectiveness of homegrown military technologies during a multi-domain mission named Operation Sindoor, conducted in May along the western borders.
Speaking at the convocation of the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), Kamat said Operation Sindoor demonstrated not just the bravery of Indian soldiers but also the strength of the technological ecosystem supporting them.
He noted that the mission was powered by several indigenous systems, including:
- Akash short- and medium-range surface-to-air missiles
- BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles
- D4 anti-drone system
- Airborne early warning and control platforms
- Akashteer air defence control system
- Advanced C4I (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence) systems
Kamat added that institutions such as DIAT play a central role in developing these critical indigenous capabilities, underscoring the momentum behind India’s ongoing defence-modernisation drive.