DRDO Rocket-Sled Ejection Test: How India Boosted Fighter Pilot Safety

Rocket-Sled Ejection Test Latest News

• The DRDO successfully conducted a high-speed rocket-sled test on December 2 to evaluate a fighter aircraft’s escape (ejection) system under controlled conditions. 
• This milestone places India among the few nations with the capability to test such systems indigenously and at high speeds.
• The test demonstrates India’s growing self-reliance in advanced aerospace safety technologies and highlights the importance of having a dynamic test facility to validate and improve pilot-escape mechanisms essential for fighter aircraft operations.

How DRDO Conducted the Rocket-Sled Ejection Test

• The test was jointly carried out by DRDO, the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at DRDO’s Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility in Chandigarh.
• The rocket-sled system replicates high-speed, in-flight aerodynamic conditions on the ground. 
• Using a dual-sled setup, the forebody of the indigenous LCA was mounted and accelerated along rail tracks. 
• Through the phased firing of multiple solid rocket motors, the system achieved a precisely controlled speed of 800 km/h, enabling accurate evaluation of the aircraft’s escape system under realistic conditions.

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Why Dynamic Ejection Tests Are More Challenging

• Dynamic ejection tests simulate real flight conditions, unlike static tests conducted at zero altitude and zero speed. 
• They are the true benchmark for validating pilot escape systems because they must replicate complex, high-speed aerodynamic forces.
• These tests evaluate:
  • Ejection seats powered by explosive cartridges and rocket motors
  • Canopy severance systems that safely clear the cockpit before ejection
  • Perfect sequencing of seat firing, stabilisation, and parachute deployment
• Survival depends on millisecond-level precision, making the process extremely sensitive.

Extreme Aerodynamic Forces and Real-World Scenarios

• Emergency ejections may occur during:
  • Low or high altitude
  • Zero speed or supersonic flight
  • Aircraft spin or inverted flight
• The systems must function flawlessly across all conditions, as incorrect sequencing or timing can cause severe injuries. 
• Hence, flight-like testing is essential to meet global safety standards.

Use of Human-Like Test Dummies for High-Fidelity Data

• The test employed instrumented anthropomorphic dummies equipped with sensors to measure:
  • Physical loads
  • Rotational forces (moments)
  • Accelerations experienced during ejection
• This helps simulate the full sequence of pilot ejection and recovery under realistic conditions.

A Major Strategic Leap in Fighter Aircraft Safety

• India’s successful indigenous test of a fighter aircraft escape system marks a significant strategic milestone.
• Ejection systems are among the most critical life-saving mechanisms in combat aircraft, directly determining pilot survivability during emergencies.

Reduced Dependence on Foreign Testing Ecosystems

• Previously, India relied on foreign test facilities to assess ejection systems—an expensive and time-consuming process.
• Indigenous testing now costs one-fourth to one-fifth of overseas testing, making development more economical and efficient.

Faster Development and Certification for Current and Future Aircraft

• By possessing an in-house dynamic ejection test facility, India can now:
  • Design and certify escape systems domestically
  • Upgrade mechanisms for future fighter platforms
  • Shorten development cycles and reduce external bottlenecks
• This enhances India’s aerospace self-reliance.

High-Fidelity Safety Data Through Realistic Simulation

• Instrumented anthropomorphic dummies allow India to precisely measure:
  • Loads
  • Accelerations
  • Impact forces
• Such data is crucial for optimising pilot safety across different emergency scenarios.

Advanced RTRS Capabilities Already Supporting National Missions

• The Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) at TBRL, operational since 2014, can test systems at supersonic speeds.
• Earlier in February, the facility successfully tested Gaganyaan drogue parachutes, firing two parachutes simultaneously to simulate real descent conditions.
• The upgraded escape system test facility now includes:
  • High-speed cameras
  • State-of-the-art measurement systems
  • A dynamic test environment matching global benchmarks

Source: IE | PIB | NDTV