New Delhi: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy jointly conducted four successful in-flight release trials of the indigenous Air-Droppable Container ‘ADC-150’ from a P-8I aircraft off the coast of Goa under different extreme release conditions.
Indigenously designed and developed to deliver a 150-kg payload, the Air-Droppable Container enhances naval operational logistics capabilities by enabling a quick response to naval vessels in distress that require critical stores, equipment, or medical assistance while deployed in the blue seas far from the coast.
The Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam is the nodal laboratory for the project. The Aerial Delivery Research & Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra developed the parachute system, while the Centre for Military Airworthiness & Certification (CEMILAC), Bengaluru provided flight clearance and certification. The Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad provided instrumentation support during the trials.
To meet the operational requirements of the Indian Navy, the ADC-150 system for the P-8I aircraft was developed and qualified within a short timeframe. With all developmental flight trials successfully completed, the system is expected to be inducted into the Indian Navy soon.