The Indian Air Force successfully tested the country’s first indigenously developed high-altitude parachute system, known as the Mountaineering Combat Parachute System (MCPS). The test jump, carried out by IAF personnel, marks a significant technological milestone, making it the only parachute system in operational use by the Indian Armed Forces that can be deployed from above 25,000 feet.

The MCPS has been developed by two Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) labs — the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE) in Agra and the Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory (DEBEL) in Bengaluru.

This advanced system ensures safe, controlled descents for paratroopers and allows them to navigate accurately and land precisely in targeted zones. It also features a lower rate of descent and better steering capabilities than existing systems.

One of the key features of the MCPS is its compatibility with Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC). This gives the system operational autonomy and protects it from interference or service denial by foreign systems, a crucial advantage during combat or sensitive missions.

Officials said the successful test opens the door for the induction of indigenous parachute systems into the Indian Armed Forces. The MCPS, they added, has a shorter maintenance turnaround time than imported systems, which will help improve operational readiness and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers during critical missions.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the Armed Forces, and industry partners, calling the test “a significant milestone for India’s indigenous defence capability.”

Samir V. Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO, also praised the team behind the project, describing the success as “a major step towards self-reliance in the field of aerial delivery systems.”