As a part of Make in India programme, DRDO has developed P7 Heavy Drop System (HDS) which is capable of para dropping military stores ((vehicle/ ammunition/ equipment) up to 7-ton weight class from IL 76 aircraft [Ilyushin Il-76 or Gajraj (elephant king)]. This HDS consists of a platform & specialised parachute system. It has been inducted in the Indian Army.
- The design of this fully indigenous system has been developed by Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), a pioneer Research & Development (R&D) lab of DRDO based in Agra, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
- It’s platform system manufactured by L&T (Larsen & Toubro) while parachutes manufactured by Ordnance Factory.
- Parachute System is a multi-stage parachute system comprises of 5 Main canopies, 5 Brake chutes, 2 Auxiliary chutes, 1 Extractor parachute and platform is a metallic structure made up of Aluminium/steel alloys
Testing of P-7 HDS:
In order to get Bulk Production Clearance (BPC) of P7 HDS, a joint team of Indian Army, Indian Air Force (IAF) and ADRDE conducted validation Trials at Agra, UP, on two systems, which were dropped from IL76 aircraft from an altitude of 600 mtrs at 280 kmph speed. The store landed safely with the help of a cluster of five large size parachutes (750 sqm each).
100% indigenous materials used
The system has been manufactured with 100% indigenous ferrous/non ferrous materials. Engineering textiles for Parachutes have been developed with the latest combination of Fluorocarbon (FC) and Silicon treatment to provide water/oil repellence and improved abrasion resistance.
About DRDO:
Headquarter– New Delhi
Chairman– Dr G. Satheesh Reddy
