- On December 2, the DRDO successfully conducted a high-speed rocket-sled test of a fighter aircraft escape system at controlled velocity.
- With this advanced dynamic test, India has joined the select group of countries with in-house capability to test high-performance escape systems.
- The test was conducted jointly with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at the Rail Track Rocket Sled Facility of the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory in Chandigarh.
- Defense Minister Rajnath Singh praised the DRDO, Indian Air Force, ADA, HAL, and industry partners and described this achievement as a major step towards indigenous self-reliance.
- It was noted that dynamic ejection tests are more complex than static assessments such as net tests or zero-zero tests, and are used to evaluate the performance of ejection seats and canopy-severance systems.
- A dual sled setup carrying the front of the LCA aircraft was launched to a precisely controlled velocity through staged ignition of multiple solid rocket motors.
- The canopy fragility pattern, ejection sequence and recovery mechanism were simulated using an instrumented anthropomorphic test dummy designed to mimic actual pilot reactions.
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