DRDO conducted a high-speed test of a fighter aircraft’s escape system in Chandigarh. With this successful test, India now joins a select group of countries with such a high-speed ejection system.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully tested a pilot-saving ejection system in a high-speed fighter aircraft. The Ministry of Defence stated that this complex test puts India among a select group of countries with the capability to test an advanced indigenous ejection system. Previously, this capability was only available to developed countries like the US, Russia, and France.
Tested at a speed of 800 kmph
Conducted at the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory in Chandigarh, a human-like dummy was used to ensure the pilot’s safety. The front of the LCA was placed on a rocket sled. The aircraft’s canopy broke off successfully at a speed of approximately 800 kmph. The ejection system ejected the dummy, and the pilot’s dummy landed on the ground using a parachute. The force and acceleration of the ejection were recorded. The entire process was captured by aerial and ground cameras. The test assessed the proper release of the aircraft’s canopy in an emergency, the pilot’s ejection seat’s timely release, and the proper operation of the entire escape system.
These organizations conducted the test together. This test was successfully conducted in collaboration with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). This highly complex and dynamic test places India among a select group of countries with the capability to fully test advanced in-house escape systems.
Dynamic ejection tests are much more complex than static tests such as net tests or zero-zero tests and are considered the most reliable benchmark for the overall performance of the ejection seat and the actual effectiveness of the canopy severance system. During this test, the front of the LCA aircraft, combined with a dual sled system, was precisely propelled forward at a controlled velocity by the staged ignition of multiple solid propellant rocket motors.
The Ministry of Defense stated that the test was successful, resulting in the safe ejection of the pilot. Evacuation tests in motion are more complex than static tests. They accurately evaluate the functionality of the ejection seat and the effectiveness of the canopy separation system. Following this test, the pilot’s chances of survival in an emergency will be greater than ever before.
Defense Minister Shri Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the Indian Air Force, ADA, HAL, and the defense industry on this successful test. He described it as an important milestone empowering indigenous defense technology towards self-reliance.
