DRDO Successfully Tests 800 km/h Rocket-Sled Escape System for Fighter Pilots
DRDO achieves breakthrough in fighter jet escape system technology.
India has successfully conducted a high-speed rocket-sled test of a fighter aircraft escape system, propelling the nation into an exclusive group of countries with advanced indigenous testing capabilities for aircrew safety. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) validated critical parameters including canopy severance, ejection sequencing, and complete pilot recovery at a precisely controlled velocity of 800 km/h.
Conducted at the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory’s Rail Track Rocket Sled facility in Chandigarh, the complex test utilised a dual-sled system carrying the forebody of a Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). Multiple solid propellant rocket motors were fired in phases to achieve the exact speed, simulating real-world emergency conditions during high-velocity flight.
The trial employed an instrumented anthropomorphic dummy to record forces, accelerations, and moments experienced by a pilot during ejection. Onboard and ground-based high-speed imaging systems captured the entire sequence, confirming flawless canopy fragilisation, seat ejection, and safe recovery—parameters far more challenging than static tests.
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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the achievement as a significant milestone in India’s journey towards self-reliance in defence technology. He commended DRDO, the Indian Air Force, Aeronautical Development Agency, and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for their collaborative effort, emphasising that the successful demonstration strengthens the safety of Indian fighter pilots.
The test was witnessed by senior Indian Air Force officials and experts from the Institute of Aerospace Medicine. DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat congratulated the teams, noting that this indigenous capability places India alongside a select few nations capable of conducting such sophisticated dynamic ejection tests, marking a major leap forward for the country’s aerospace defence ecosystem.
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