New Delhi: India has successfully conducted a high-speed rocket-sled test of a fighter aircraft escape system, validating critical safety parameters including canopy severance, ejection sequencing, and complete aircrew recovery. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) carried out the test at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility of the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) in Chandigarh.
The rocket-sled test simulates a mid-air aircraft scenario, where the system is propelled at controlled high speeds on rails using phased firing of multiple solid propellant rocket motors. The test involved a dual-sled system with the forebody of a Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and an instrumented anthropomorphic test dummy to record loads, moments, and accelerations experienced by ejected pilots. Onboard and ground-based imaging systems captured the entire sequence.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised the DRDO, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and Aeronautical Development Agency for the milestone, highlighting it as a key step toward India’s indigenous defence self-reliance. A senior official noted that this achievement places India in “an elite club of nations” with advanced in-house capabilities for escape system testing.
The complex dynamic test is considered far more challenging than static evaluations like net or zero-zero tests, providing a realistic assessment of ejection seat performance and canopy severance efficiency. Officials from the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Institute of Aerospace Medicine witnessed the successful demonstration.
Department of Defence R&D Secretary and DRDO Chairman Samir V. Kamat congratulated the team for achieving this significant breakthrough in India’s defence technology capabilities.
