India Achieves Milestone in Defence Technology with Successful Fighter Jet Escape System Test

The test was observed by officials from the IAF and the Institute of Aerospace Medicine.

New Delhi:

The DRDO has successfully executed a high-speed rocket-sledge test of a fighter aircraft escape system at controlled velocity, confirming key safety parameters, including complete aircrew recovery.

According to the defence ministry's Tuesday announcement, this achievement places India in "an elite club of nations" with advanced in-house escape system testing capabilities.

A senior official explained that in a rocket-sledge test, the system, combined with a rocket propulsion mechanism, runs at high speed on rail tracks to simulate a moving aircraft in mid-air.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO, IAF, Aeronautical Development Agency, and HAL for the successful test. He described it as a significant milestone for India's indigenous defence capability towards self-reliance.

"Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has successfully conducted a high-speed rocket-sled test of fighter aircraft escape system at precisely controlled velocity of 800 km/h- validating canopy severance, ejection sequencing and complete aircrew-recovery at Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility of the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Chandigarh," stated the defence minister's office on X.

The complex dynamic test, conducted at a rail track rocket sledge facility in Chandigarh, was performed in collaboration with Aeronautical Development Agency and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. This achievement propels India into "an elite club of nations" with advanced in-house escape system testing capability, according to the ministry's statement.

"A dual-sledge system with the LCA aircraft forebody was propelled to precisely controlled velocity through phased firing of multiple solid propellant rocket motors," the statement detailed.

Officials from the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Institute of Aerospace Medicine witnessed the test.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has "conducted a successful high-speed rocket-sledge test of a fighter aircraft escape system at controlled velocity," reported the ministry.

"The test at the rail track rocket sledge facility of the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, Chandigarh, validated canopy severance, ejection sequencing and complete aircrew-recovery," the ministry added.

The ministry further explained that "the canopy fragilisation pattern, ejection sequencing and complete aircrew recovery process was simulated using an instrumented anthropomorphic test dummy, which recorded critical loads, moments, and accelerations that would be experienced by ejected pilots".

The entire sequence was documented through onboard and ground-based imaging systems.

"Dynamic ejection tests are significantly more complex than static tests such as 'net test' or 'zero-zero test', and real measure for evaluating ejection seat performance and efficacy of canopy severance system," the ministry stated. Department of Defence R&D Secretary and DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat also congratulated the DRDO team associated with this successful demonstration.