New Delhi: The Authority Holding Sealed Particulars (AHSP) for the P-7 Parachute System has officially been transferred from the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), a DRDO lab based in Agra, to the Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA).
Developed and rigorously qualified by ADRDE, the P-7 Parachute System is manufactured by Gliders India Limited (Ordnance Parachute Factory) in Kanpur. Designed for robust performance, it can safely deploy payloads of up to 9.5 tons from IL-76 aircraft at altitudes reaching four kilometres. The Indian Army intends to use this advanced system for rapid deployment of critical equipment, such as Light Field Guns and Jeeps, to support operations in remote and conflict-prone border areas, according to the Defence Ministry.
Following successful General Staff Evaluations, an initial order of 146 P-7 systems has been placed with GIL (OPF), Kanpur, by the Indian Army, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defence.
“Indian Army can rapidly deploy their Light Field Gun & Jeep at the border and conflict areas by air dropping with this system. Army has placed an intent on GIL (OPF), Kanpur for supply of 146 P-7 Heavy Drop Parachute System. The system has successfully completed General Staff Evaluation and been inducted into the services,” MoD statement stated.
On August 19, 2023, the Indian Air Force tested the new Heavy Drop System (HDS) from a C-17 Globemaster III. ADRDE has designed various versions of the HDS to meet the requirements of different transport aircraft, including the Antonov An-32 Cline, the Ilyushin Il-76 Candid, and the McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster III. These versions accommodate payloads of 3, 7, and 16 tons, respectively. The 3-ton and 7-ton systems have already been deployed with the Indian Army and Navy, and a specialised naval variant is also under development.
The P-7 HDS, tailored for the Il-76, integrates a platform and parachute assembly. In 2020, DRDO demonstrated an enhanced P-7 HDS version and conducted validation trials soon after the Galwan conflict. During these trials, two P-7 units were deployed from an IL-76 aircraft at 600 meters altitude and 280 km/h, utilising a cluster of five parachutes (each measuring 750 sqm) to ensure the safe landing of the cargo.
According to officials, the P-7 significantly enhances the armed forces’ ability to deliver combat stores to inaccessible regions. It uses indigenous materials with advanced engineering textiles for improved water and oil resistance. This system is a testament to India’s growing capability to independently develop and manufacture critical defence technologies.
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