DRDO Conducts a Successful High-Speed Rocket-Sled Test of Fighter Jet Escape System

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has conducted a successful high-speed rocket-sled test of fighter aircraft escape system at controlled velocity. The test at Rail Track Rocket Sled facility of the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, Chandigarh, validated canopy severance, ejection sequencing and complete aircrew-recovery.

The test was conducted in collaboration with Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). This complex dynamic test places India in an elite club of nations with advanced in-house escape system testing capability.

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 & efficacy of canopy severance system. A dual-sled system with the LCA aircraft forebody was propelled to precisely controlled velocity through phased firing of multiple solid propellant rocket motors.

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 captured through onboard and ground-based imaging systems. The test was witnessed by the officials from the Indian Air Force (IAF), and the Institute of Aerospace Medicine & certification.

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh complimented DRDO, IAF, ADA, HAL and industry on the successful test. He described it as a significant milestone for India’s indigenous defence capability towards self-reliance.

Why this is a big achievement for DRDO

It shows bharat is not just importing or assembling but indigenously developing critical life-saving avionics and escape systems. This raises confidence in future indigenous jets or upgrade programs.

The DRDO test was focused on:

• Canopy Severance System (CSS) – Cutting/blowing off the cockpit canopy
• Ejection sequencing – The entire chain of triggers
• Pilot recovery systems – Parachutes, survival kit, stabilization

This involves the ecosystem around the ejection seat. This test proves that India is validating all the supporting mechanisms needed to integrate indigenous escape systems. It reduces dependence on Martin Baker / Russian seats over time. Is India building its own ejection seat? The answer is: YES – step by step, and this test is a milestone.

The key achievement here is not just one seat, but an in-house dynamic test ecosystem (dual-sled, LCA forebody, ATD instrumentation, high-speed RTRS track) that lets DRDO, ADA and HAL design, validate and iterate escape systems domestically instead of relying only on foreign OEM test results.