– Tactical Use of AHAP in High-Altitude Areas Successfully Demonstrated

New Delhi, 06 October (HS): The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Tuesday conducted the first live test of the Advanced High-Altitude Parachute (AHAP), manufactured at the Ordnance Parachute Factory (OPF) in Kanpur, at Nyoma, one of the highest-altitude drop zones. The jump was conducted from an altitude of 16,000 feet above sea level. The paratroopers jumped from 15,500 feet and landed at an altitude of 13,700 feet. The jump demonstrated the effectiveness and tactical utility of the AHAP parachute in very high-altitude areas.

According to the DRDO, the system has been designed and developed by the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra. It is a static-line parachute system designed for the mass deployment of paratroopers. The AHAP offers multiple deployment modes, has a wide operational altitude range of up to 18,000 feet and provides a safe rate of descent, making it suitable for the operational requirements of the Indian Armed Forces, particularly in high-altitude areas.

Static-line parachute jumps at high altitudes are challenging and inherently risky because of the high opening shock and increased rate of descent. The AHAP has been developed to address these challenges and enhance the safety of personnel during deployment and landing in difficult terrain.

The system represents a major technological achievement for the Indian Armed Forces under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. It is a static-line parachute system designed to enable the safe deployment and landing of large numbers of paratroopers simultaneously. The system is suited to the strategic requirements of the Indian Army in rugged and difficult mountainous terrain at altitudes of up to 18,000 feet. At high altitudes, lower air pressure and high wind speeds can make parachute jumps considerably more challenging and hazardous.

The AHAP has been specifically designed to mitigate the effects of strong opening shocks and provide a slower and safer rate of descent, enabling personnel to land safely even under challenging conditions.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO, the Armed Forces, defence public sector undertakings and industry for the first successful live jump of the indigenous AHAP parachute system, describing the achievement as another major step towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Defence Secretary and DRDO Chairman Rajesh Kumar Singh congratulated the teams involved in the design and development of the system.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar