DRDO conducts high-speed rocket-sled test of fighter aircraft escape system at TBRL Chandigarh
DRDO conducted a successful high-speed rocket-sled test of a fighter aircraft escape system at the Rail Track Rocket Sled facility of TBRL, Chandigarh, as announced on 2 December 2025, validating canopy severance, ejection sequencing and aircrew recovery.
Summary
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted a successful high-speed rocket-sled test of a fighter aircraft escape system at the Rail Track Rocket Sled facility of the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Chandigarh, as announced on 2 December 2025. The DRDO test, done with the Aeronautical Development Agency and HAL, used a dual-sled system with an LCA aircraft forebody and validated canopy severance, ejection sequencing and complete aircrew recovery. According to DRDO, the dynamic test places India in an elite club of nations with advanced in-house escape system testing capability.
Key facts
- Announced
- 2 December 2025
- Facility
- Rail Track Rocket Sled, TBRL Chandigarh
- Partners
- ADA and HAL
- Test rig
- Dual-sled with LCA forebody
- Validated
- Canopy severance, ejection sequencing, aircrew recovery
- Significance
- India joins elite club with in-house escape system testing
Practice MCQs 2 questions
At which DRDO laboratory's facility was the high-speed rocket-sled test of a fighter aircraft escape system conducted in December 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — TBRL, Chandigarh
PIB 2197771: the test was at the Rail Track Rocket Sled facility of the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, Chandigarh.
Consider the following statements about DRDO's rocket-sled escape system test announced on 2 December 2025: 1. It was conducted with the Aeronautical Development Agency and HAL. 2. A dual-sled system with an LCA aircraft forebody was used. 3. It was a static Zero-Zero test. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB 2197771: done with ADA and HAL using a dual-sled LCA forebody; it was a dynamic test, described as more complex than static tests such as the Net test or Zero-Zero test.