PRIVATE INDUSTRIES GEAR UP TO TAKE UP PRODUCTION OF ‘CANOPY SEVERANCE SYSTEM (CSS)’ FOR LIGHT COMBAT AIRCRAFT (LCA)
A ‘Canopy Severance System (CSS)’ provides safe passage by pre-weakening the cockpit canopy to facilitate smooth escape of the pilot in a shortest possible time during emergency of Military Aircraft. CSS for Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) has been designed as two separate independent Sub Systems, the first, In-flight Egress System (IES) for in-flight emergencies & is integrated with the main escape system operation and the Ground Egress System (GES) for on-ground emergencies & is independent of the main escape system.
Agreements were signed on 20th Jan 2017 between Pune based DRDO Laboratories ARDE & HEMRL and Hyderabad based private industries M/s. Gulf Oil Corporation Ltd. & M/s. Premier Explosives Ltd., for Transfer of Technology (ToT) for the Production of CSS for the Indigenously developed LCA. Dr KM Rajan, Distinguished Scientist & Director, ARDE & Shri. KPS Murthy, Outstanding Scientist & Director, HEMRL and senior representatives of the firms signed the licensing agreements.
These two firms would be supplying 08 sets each in the first phase, after fulfilling all rigorous qualification and functional tests as applicable for Air-Borne systems.
CSS is the state of the art technology product, developed ab-initio for the first time in India at ARDE, in association with HEMRL, Pune, for the indigenously developed LCA Tejas & Trainer, HJT-36 Aircraft. CSS for LCA Tejas & Trainer aircraft were respectively tested successfully in seat ejection trials at M/s. Martin Baker Co., London, UK and M/s. Zvezda, Moscow, Russia. The CSS design has been cleared by RCMA(AA), Pune and based on their recommendations, CEMILAC has issued Type Approval. QA cover during entire development and as well as in production thereafter has been provided by ORDAQA(A), Pune, a local unit of DGAQA.
Presently, CSS has been integrated on 15 Tejas, 12 HJT-36, 2 LCA Trainer & Naval versions and the first HTT-40 Aircraft. All aircraft are undergoing test flights with CSS onboard. ARDE & HEMRL are now capable of developing CSS for any Military Aircraft in India & abroad.
