India Enters Elite League as DRDO Successfully Tests High-Speed Escape System for Fighter Aircraft

In a major boost to India’s indigenous aerospace capabilities, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted a high-speed rocket sledge test of a fighter aircraft escape system, marking a significant milestone in the country’s journey toward self-reliance in critical aviation safety technologies.

The test was conducted at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility of DRDO’s Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) in Chandigarh. It validated three crucial components of a pilot’s emergency escape sequence—canopy severance, ejection timing, and safe aircrew recovery—under dynamic, high-speed conditions.

Developed in collaboration with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the system was subjected to a complex trial using a dual-sled configuration. The forebody of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) was mounted on the sled and propelled to a carefully calibrated velocity through the sequential ignition of multiple solid-propellant rocket motors. This approach enabled engineers to simulate real ejection scenarios more accurately than traditional static evaluations, such as net or zero-zero tests.

Central to the test was an advanced instrumented Anthropomorphic Test Dummy representing a fighter pilot. Equipped with sensors, the dummy captured data on forces, accelerations and stresses that an aircrew member would experience during an actual emergency ejection. The sequence—from canopy breakaway to pilot extraction—was tracked using onboard cameras and ground-based imaging systems. Officials from the Indian Air Force, the Institute of Aerospace Medicine, and certification agencies were present to witness the test.

Dynamic ejection trials of this nature are among the most challenging in the aviation safety domain, and only a handful of countries possess the capability to design and execute them. With this achievement, India joins that elite group, underscoring its growing technological competence in high-risk aerospace systems.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, ADA, HAL, the Indian Air Force and industry partners for the feat, calling it “a significant step toward self-reliance in advanced defence systems.” He added that such milestones reinforce India’s confidence in developing complex aviation technologies indigenously.

Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has successfully conducted a high-speed rocket-sled test of fighter aircraft escape system at precisely controlled velocity of 800 km/h- validating canopy severance, ejection sequencing and complete aircrew-recovery at Rail… pic.twitter.com/G19PJOV6yD

— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) December 2, 2025

Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat also lauded the scientists and engineers involved, noting that the successful demonstration reflects the organisation’s commitment to innovation and enhanced pilot safety.

Team BharatShakti