DRDO Conducts Maiden Live Jump of Indigenous Advanced High-Altitude Parachute at Nyoma
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has carried out the first live jump of its indigenous Advanced High-Altitude Parachute (AHAP) at Nyoma’s Mudh DZ, one of the highest-altitude drop zones, in a test that demonstrated the system’s performance and operational usefulness in extreme high-altitude conditions.
The trial was conducted 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 located at 13,700 feet.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the successful live jump showed that the AHAP can function effectively in extremely high-altitude terrain and that it meets the tactical requirements of the Indian Defence Forces in such environments.
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 was 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.
The ministry said the AHAP offers multiple deployment modes and has an operational altitude range extending up to 18,000 feet. It is also designed to provide a safe rate of descent, which makes it suitable for high-altitude military use.
High-altitude static line parachute jumps are particularly demanding because they involve very high opening shock and a fast rate of descent, making them inherently risky. In that context, the maiden live jump at Nyoma served as an operational demonstration of the indigenous system under extremely high-altitude conditions.
The complete sequence of the trial — from the jump at 16,000 feet AMSL to parachute deployment at 15,500 feet AMSL and landing at 13,700 feet — was successfully completed at the Nyoma drop zone.
The development and demonstration of the AHAP bring together the work of DRDO’s ADRDE, the Ordnance Parachute Factory, DGAQA and CEMILAC, reflecting an indigenous effort to meet the high-altitude operational needs of the Indian Defence Forces.
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the Defence Forces, Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and industry on the successful maiden live jump of the indigenous AHAP system, calling 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 parachute system.
The Nyoma jump now stands as an important stage in the AHAP’s development and operational evaluation, with the test confirming its efficacy and tactical employability in extremely high-altitude terrain.
