DRDO Successfully Completes First Live Jump Test of Advanced High-Altitude Parachute in Ladakh

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully completed the first live jump test of an advanced high-altitude parachute at the Nyoma (Mudh) drop zone located in Eastern Ladakh. During the test, a paratrooper jumped from an altitude of 16,000 feet above sea level. The parachute deployed at 15,500 feet, and the paratrooper made a safe landing at the Nyoma Mudh drop zone, situated at an altitude of approximately 13,700 feet.

This advanced parachute was designed and developed by the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment based in Agra. It is a 'static line parachute system,' which is utilized for dropping a large number of paratroopers. In this technology, the parachute opens automatically via a static rope connected to the aircraft. This system is primarily used for military operations and mass combat jumps.

The parachute system was manufactured by the Ordnance Parachute Factory in Kanpur. It was inspected by the Directorate General of Quality Assurance of the Department of Defence Production, and certification was provided by the Military Aviation Worthiness and Certification Centre, Regional Military Airworthiness Centre Kanpur.

The operational altitude limit of this advanced high-altitude parachute is up to 18,000 feet. Its descent rate has been optimized for maximum safety, aligning with the strategic requirements of the Indian Defence Forces in high-altitude areas. Generally, jumping from a static line parachute at such extreme altitudes is risky due to the sharp jerk upon opening and a higher descent speed; however, this new system provides solutions to these challenges.

Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the defence forces, defence public sector undertakings, and the industry for the successful first live jump of the indigenous parachute system (AHAP), describing it as a significant step toward a self-reliant India (Atmanirbhar Bharat). Defence Secretary and Chairman of DRDO, Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, also extended congratulations to the team involved in the design and development of the system.