India Conducts High-Speed Rocket-Sled Test, Joins ‘Elite Club’

New Delhi: The DRDO has successfully carried out a high-speed rocket-sled test of a fighter aircraft escape system at a precisely controlled velocity, validating key safety parameters such as canopy severance, ejection sequencing, and full aircrew recovery, the defence ministry said on Tuesday.

The test places India in an “elite club of nations” with advanced in-house escape system testing capability. Conducted at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility of the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) in Chandigarh, the dynamic evaluation simulated mid-air conditions by propelling a dual-sled system with the LCA aircraft forebody to controlled speeds through phased firing of multiple solid rocket motors, officials said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO, the IAF, the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), and HAL, calling the test a major milestone in strengthening indigenous defence capability and advancing self-reliance. His office said the system was tested at 800 km/h and successfully demonstrated complete aircrew recovery.

The ministry said the test was more complex than static assessments such as net tests or zero-zero tests, and represents the real benchmark for evaluating ejection seat performance and canopy severance systems. Officials from the Indian Air Force and the Institute of Aerospace Medicine witnessed the demonstration.

The canopy fragilisation pattern, sequencing, and recovery process were assessed using an instrumented anthropomorphic test dummy that recorded critical loads, moments, and accelerations experienced during ejection. The full sequence was documented using onboard and ground-based imaging systems.

DRDO Chairman and Secretary, Defence R&D, Samir V Kamat also commended the team for achieving the successful demonstration, which further enhances India’s capability in high-fidelity escape system testing. (Agencies)