Engineers simulated a critical emergency ejection scenario by mounting an instrumented anthropomorphic dummy on the ejection seat. As the sled accelerated, multiple solid-propellant rocket motors fired in a precisely timed sequence. Ground- and onboard cameras recorded the canopy being shattered, the seat ejecting, and the dummy deploying its parachute — replicating the sequence of events necessary to safely eject a pilot in mid-air. The instrumentation captured data on loads, accelerations and moments the pilot would undergo, confirming that stresses remain within survivable limits.
Officials from the Aeronautical Development Agency, the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and the Indian Air Force, along with experts from the Institute of Aerospace Medicine, observed the trial. The coordinated exercise places the country among a small number of nations with the in-house capacity to conduct dynamic, high-speed ejection-seat validation — a major step forward for domestic aviation safety and defence autonomy.
Static evaluations such as ground “net tests” or zero-zero checks have long been part of ejection-seat qualification. However, experts consider rocket-sled trials the ultimate test, as they replicate aerodynamic loads, acceleration profiles and environmental stresses analogous to high-speed flight. Successful completion of this test suggests indigenous escape systems are now approaching maturity for certification and deployment aboard frontline combat aircraft.
Defence Ministry sources described the achievement as a milestone in self-reliant defence capability. Teams from DRDO, ADA and HAL will now analyse the data and feed insights into further refinement of escape system design. Pending comprehensive evaluation across different flight regimes and seat configurations, the technology may soon be cleared for integration with operational jets.
This development could also reduce reliance on foreign suppliers for critical pilot safety equipment — a high-cost and high-sensitivity component in advanced military aviation. It underscores a broader push toward self-sufficiency in defence manufacturing without compromising safety or performance standards.