India tests Military Combat Parachute System in Ladakh

India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully tested its indigenously developed Military Combat Parachute System (MCPS) at high altitude in Ladakh. The trial took place at the Nyoma-Mudh Drop Zone, an area near the Line of Actual Control characterized by extreme conditions.

Test jumpers exited an aircraft at 22,000 feet above sea level in temperatures as low as −15°C. The parachutes were deployed at 20,000 feet, and the personnel landed safely at an altitude of 13,700 feet. The system was developed through a collaboration between the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE) in Agra and the Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory (DEBEL) in Bengaluru.

The MCPS is designed for the tactical insertion of special forces personnel carrying combat loads. The integrated system includes indigenous subsystems such as a para computer, oxygen system, and specialized jumpsuits. Additionally, the system is compatible with the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) to reduce reliance on foreign navigation technologies.