DRDO Achieves Major Milestone in Indigenous Pilot Safety Technology

Chandigarh:The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) yesterday achieved a significant milestone by conducting a successful high-speed rocket-sledge test of a fighter aircraft escape system at a controlled velocity.
This complex dynamic test, conducted in collaboration with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), was carried out at the Rail Track Rocket Sledge (RTRS) facility of the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) in Chandigarh.
With this successful demonstration, India has joined the elite club of nations possessing advanced, in-house capabilities for testing fighter aircraft escape systems.
The dynamic ejection test is substantially more complex than static tests, as it realistically measures the performance and efficacy of the ejection seat and the canopy severance system. A dual-sledge system, featuring the forebody of the LCA aircraft, was propelled to a precisely controlled velocity by firing multiple solid propellant rocket motors.
The entire aircrew recovery process, including canopy fragilisation and ejection sequencing, was simulated using an instrumented Anthropomorphic Test Dummy. The dummy recorded critical data, such as the loads and accelerations a pilot would experience during an emergency ejection.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh complimented DRDO, the IAF, ADA, HAL, and industry partners, hailing the successful trial as a significant step toward indigenous defence capability and self-reliance.