New Delhi: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted a high-speed rocket-sled test of fighter aircraft escape system successfully, the Defence ministry said on Tuesday.
In a significant boost to indigenous fighter jet safety tech, the test showed that pilot-ejection mechanism functions accurately and safely under extreme conditions.
According to the Defence ministry, the test was conducted at a precisely-controlled speed of 800 kmph at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility of the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) in Chandigarh.
The video shows the system successfully propelling a dummy pilot clear of the cockpit, illustrating how the mechanism ensures safe ejection when a fighter jet encounters a life-threatening situation.
DRDO has successfully conducted a high-speed rocket-sled dynamic ejection test at TBRL Chandigarh, validating canopy severance, ejection sequencing and complete aircrew recovery using an instrumented dummy. The complex test, carried out with ADA and @HALHQBLR using a dual-sled… pic.twitter.com/iYUr4Papzc
— Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) December 2, 2025
The trial validated three critical components of a modern escape system — canopy severance, ejection sequencing, and complete aircrew recovery – said the Defence ministry.
Congratulating DRDO, Indian Air Force, ADA, HAL and industry partners, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called it a significant milestone that strengthens India’s indigenous defence capabilities and advances its broader push toward self-reliance.
Operation Sindoor, conducted in May to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack, had demonstrated the effectiveness of indigenous military systems during a complex mission which precisely targeted nine terror hubs in Pakistan and PoK, and successfully destroyed those.