India Joins Elite Nations with Successful Fighter Aircraft Escape System Test
Significant Milestone for India's Defence Capabilities
New Delhi: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully executed a high-speed rocket-sled test for a fighter aircraft escape system, confirming crucial safety parameters, including the complete recovery of aircrew.
This achievement positions India among a select group of nations with advanced capabilities in testing escape systems, as stated by the defence ministry on Tuesday.
During the rocket-sled test, the system, integrated with a rocket propulsion mechanism, was propelled at high speeds along rails to mimic an aircraft in flight, according to a senior official.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised the efforts of the DRDO, Indian Air Force (IAF), Aeronautical Development Agency, and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for this successful test, calling it a pivotal step towards enhancing India's self-reliance in defence.
The DRDO's office announced on X that the test was conducted at a precisely controlled speed of 800 km/h, validating critical aspects such as canopy severance, ejection sequencing, and the complete recovery of aircrew at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility in Chandigarh.
This intricate dynamic test, carried out in collaboration with the Aeronautical Development Agency and HAL, has propelled India into an elite group of nations with sophisticated in-house escape system testing capabilities, according to the ministry's statement.
The test utilized a dual-sled system with the forebody of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), achieving controlled velocities through the phased firing of multiple solid propellant rocket motors.
Officials from the IAF and the Institute of Aerospace Medicine were present to witness the test.
The DRDO confirmed the successful execution of the high-speed rocket-sled test for the fighter aircraft escape system at controlled velocities.
Raksha Mantri, Shri @rajnathsingh has complimented DRDO, IAF, ADA, HAL and industry on successful conduct of High-Speed Rocket Sled Test of Fighter Aircraft Escape System and described it as a significant milestone for India’s indigenous defence capability towards self-reliance. https://t.co/hNddBxM2Yt
— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) December 2, 2025
The test at the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory's rail track rocket sled facility in Chandigarh validated the canopy severance, ejection sequencing, and complete recovery of aircrew.
The ministry elaborated that the canopy fragilisation pattern, ejection sequencing, and recovery process were simulated using an instrumented anthropomorphic test dummy, which recorded vital loads, moments, and accelerations experienced by ejected pilots.
The entire sequence was documented using onboard and ground-based imaging systems.
Dynamic ejection tests are considerably more complex than static tests like 'net tests' or 'zero-zero tests', serving as a true measure for assessing ejection seat performance and the efficacy of the canopy severance system, the ministry noted.
Samir V Kamat, Secretary of Defence R&D and DRDO Chairman, also congratulated the DRDO team involved in this successful demonstration.