Indian Air Force's C-17 Globemaster-III Transport Aircraft Successfully Drops DRDO-Developed Heavy Airdrop Platform

On Thursday (7 December), the Indian Air Force (IAF) achieved a significant milestone by airdropping a heavy-duty platform from a C-17 transport aircraft over a military zone in Agra.

Developed indigenously, this platform is capable of carrying a maximum load of 16 tonnes. Officials noted that it was the first time a platform of this size, measuring 24 feet by eight feet, was airdropped from an IAF aircraft.

The IAF's Western Command announced the achievement on social media, stating, "An Indian Air Force C-17 airdropped an ADRDE-developed Type V Platform (24 ft), for the first time. This successful outcome is a result of the efforts of dedicated teams from the IAF, Indian Army, and ADRDE, in showcasing the strength of indigenous innovation."

The Defence Research and Development Organisation's (DRDO's) lab Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), known for being a leading defence research laboratory, developed this platform.

Officials detailed that the airdropping trials were executed in three distinct stages.

"The first stage entailed inspecting the load outside the aircraft. The second stage involved loading checks of the platform in the C-17 aircraft, and the third stage was the airdrop of the entire system over a selected drop zone," an official said.

The official confirmed the success of all stages, stating, "The cargo was released as planned and landed safely as desired".

This accomplishment marks a significant advancement in the capabilities of the IAF, reflecting the progress in indigenous defence technology and collaboration between different branches of the Indian armed forces.