Indian Economy News

DRDO conducts successful high-speed Rocket-sledge test of fighter aircraft escape system

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is proud to announce that it has conducted the first successful high-speed rocket-sledge testing of an ejection seat for a fighter jet using its proprietary Rail Track Rocket Sledge (RTRS) facility located at the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory in Chandigarh. This test demonstrates India's ability to conduct complex, dynamic ejection-seat testing. The DRDO has now joined an elite list of nations with advanced indigenous testing facilities. This testing was performed in partnership with the ADA (Aeronautical Development Agency) and HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited). Members of the Indian Air Force and the Institute of Aerospace Medicine observed it. The Defence Minister, Mr. Rajnath Singh, congratulated the DRDO, IAF, ADA, HAL, and associated industry partners on this achievement, stating that it will serve as a significant milestone in continuing to establish India's self-reliance in developing defence technologies.
Dynamic ejection tests are much more complicated than Regular static tests like Net Tests or Zero-Zero Tests and offer live evaluations of the Ejection Seat's Performance, Canopy Severance Efficiency, and Aircrew Survival Capacity (during events). To perform the test, a Dual Sledge System mounted on the Nose of the LCA Aircraft was fired (at carefully controlled velocity) utilising Sequential Ignition of Multiple Solid Propellant Rocket Motors. Furthermore, an Instrumented Anthropomorphic Test Dummy that mimics Human Physiology was used to recreate the entire Ejection and Recovery Sequence. All Test parameters related to Load, Moment, and Acceleration during the ejection event were captured using both Onboard (for ejection) and Ground-based Imaging Systems for the complete event. The successful outcome of this testing program demonstrates India's increasing technological capability in the development of Aircraft Safety Systems. It represents a Significant Step forward in advancing indigenous defence innovation.

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