DRDO Successfully Conducts High-Speed Rocket-Sled Test of Fighter Aircraft Escape System

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully carried out a high-speed rocket-sled test of a fighter aircraft escape system at controlled velocity.

• Where the Test Took Place: The trial was conducted at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility of the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) in Chandigarh.
• What the Test Validated:
  • Canopy severance system
  • Ejection sequencing
  • Complete aircrew recovery
    These are critical components to ensure pilot safety during emergency escape.
• Collaborating Agencies:
  • Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA)
  • Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
    The joint effort strengthens India’s indigenous capability in aircraft safety technologies.
• Elite Global Capability:
  This complex dynamic test places India among a select group of nations with advanced, in-house testing facilities for fighter aircraft escape systems.
• Why Dynamic Tests Matter:
  • Dynamic ejection tests are far more complex than static tests like Net tests or Zero-Zero tests.
  • They provide the real measure of an ejection seat’s performance, timing, and canopy severance effectiveness under realistic conditions.
• How the Test Was Conducted:
  A dual-sled system equipped with the LCA aircraft forebody was propelled to a precisely controlled velocity using phased firing of multiple solid rocket motors, simulating real-flight escape conditions.