DRDO Tests High-Speed Rocket Sled for Advanced Fighter Escape System
India inched closer to stronger self-reliance in defence tech as the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) carried out a high-speed rocket-sled test of an advanced fighter aircraft escape system. The trial, executed at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility of the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory in Chandigarh, showcased DRDO's ability to validate canopy severance, ejection sequencing, and full aircrew recovery under controlled high-velocity conditions.
The test, conducted with support from the ADA and HAL, marks a major leap in placing India among the few nations that have in-house capability to perform such a complex dynamic escape-system evaluation.
Unlike standard static trials such as Net tests or Zero-Zero tests, this dynamic ejection test demanded far greater precision. A dual-sled setup carrying the forebody of the Light Combat Aircraft was accelerated to a carefully calibrated velocity through phased ignition of multiple solid rocket motors. The goal was to reproduce conditions of real-life ejection with maximum accuracy.
An instrumented Anthropomorphic Test Dummy (ATD) simulated a pilot during the ejection event. The dummy gathered critical data on impact loads, forces, and accelerations to determine the reliability and safety of the system. High-speed on-board cameras along the sled track complemented with ground-based systems, captured every millisecond of the process for detailed analysis.
The demonstration was attended by officials from the Indian Air Force, the Institute of Aerospace Medicine, and certification agencies.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, IAF, ADA, HAL & the industry partners for this great achievement, terming the feat as a major stride in India's pursuit of indigenous defence capabilities.
DRDO Chairman Dr. Samir V. Kamat congratulated the teams and said that the milestone achieved is important in the context of aircraft safety and mission readiness. That speaks of success, strengthening India's foothold in developing world-class escape technologies for fighter pilots—proof that the nation’s defence ecosystem is levelling up, fast and fearless.
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