NEW DELHI: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Wednesday announced that it had successfully tested the indigenously developed Military Combat Parachute System (MCPS) at the Nyoma-Mudh drop zone in Ladakh, one of the world’s highest-altitude drop zones.According to the DRDO, test jumpers from its Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra, executed a jump from 22,000 feet above mean sea level at a temperature of −15°C.
Wing Commander Rahul Jha, the chief test jumper, along with Master Warrant Officers RJ Singh and Vivek Tiwari, carried out the jump using the MCPS and its indigenous subsystems, including a para computer, oxygen system and jumpsuits. The parachute was deployed at 20,000 feet, followed by a safe landing at 13,700 feet.“The successful trial demonstrated the efficacy, reliability and tactical employability of MCPS in extreme high-altitude conditions, reinforcing India’s commitment to self-reliance in critical defence technologies,” it said.In October last year, Indian Air Force test jumpers successfully undertook a combat freefall jump from 32,000 feet using the MCPS. The feat made it the only parachute system currently in operational use by the Indian Armed Forces capable of deployment above 25,000 feet.The MCPS was developed by DRDO’s ADRDE and Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory (DEBEL), Bengaluru. It incorporates enhanced tactical features such as a lower rate of descent and improved steering capabilities, enabling paratroopers to exit aircraft, deploy parachutes at predetermined altitudes, navigate accurately and land at designated zones.The system is also compatible with Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC), reducing dependence on foreign navigation systems and making it less susceptible to external interference or denial of service.Its indigenous development is expected to reduce the armed forces’ dependence on foreign equipment for maintenance and repairs, particularly during conflicts, while enabling faster turnaround for routine servicing.
