DRDO Conducts Maiden Live Jump of Indigenous Advanced High-Altitude Parachute at Nyoma

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has carried out the maiden live jump of its Advanced High-Altitude Parachute (AHAP) at Nyoma (Mudh DZ), one of the country’s highest-altitude drop zones, in a demonstration aimed at proving the system’s performance in extreme terrain.

The jump took place at 16,000 feet above mean sea level (AMSL). After the jump, the parachute was deployed at 15,500 feet AMSL and the landing was completed at Nyoma (Mudh DZ), which is situated at 13,700 feet.

The successful trial showed that the AHAP can operate effectively in very high-altitude conditions and confirmed its tactical employability for the requirements of the Indian Defence Forces in such environments. The demonstration covered the full sequence from jump to deployment and landing under difficult high-altitude conditions.

The AHAP has been designed and developed by the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra. It is a static line parachute system intended for the mass drop of paratroopers.

The system has been manufactured by the Ordnance Parachute Factory (OPF), Kanpur. It was inspected by the Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DGAQA) and certified by the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC), RCMA Kanpur.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the AHAP offers multiple deployment modes and has a wide operational altitude range of up to 18,000 feet. It is also designed to provide a safe rate of descent, making it suitable for the tactical needs of the Indian Defence Forces in high-altitude terrain.

Static line parachute jumps at such elevations are inherently demanding because of the very high opening shock and the rate of descent. The live jump at Nyoma therefore served as an operational demonstration of the indigenous system under especially challenging conditions.

The trial also reflected the collaborative effort behind the project, involving DRDO’s ADRDE, the Ordnance Parachute Factory, DGAQA and CEMILAC. The successful live demonstration is described as an indigenous effort towards meeting high-altitude operational requirements.

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the Defence Forces, Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and industry for the successful maiden live jump of the indigenous AHAP parachute system. He called it another major step towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Defence Secretary and Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh also congratulated the team members involved in the design and development of the system.

The Nyoma trial marks an important stage in the development and operational evaluation of the Advanced High-Altitude Parachute, with the live jump confirming its efficacy and tactical employability in extremely high-altitude terrain.