Punjab Airbornics Defence & Space Pvt. Ltd. (ADSL), the defence division of JCBL Group, tested its indigenously developed 28-ft Heavy Air Drop System on 17 February 2025, with the trial conducted by the Army Airborne Training School (AATS). The system has now been officially deployed with the Indian Army for the first time.
The 20T Heavy Air Drop System was designed and manufactured by JCBL (ADSL) in collaboration with the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Earlier controlled trials were carried out using standard 12–24 ft platforms and dummy loads, while the latest test introduced a 28-ft platform and parachute configuration.
The trial marked the first use in India of a 28-ft platform with a pack of two 28-ft extractor configuration and a four-point link system for strategic payload deployment. The test involved the deployment of an approximately 15-tonne BMP Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) under near-realistic conditions, replacing previous dummy load evaluations, and utilised a twin 28-ft extractor configuration designed for heavier strategic loads.
This article was originally published on MACHINIST.IN and is republished here with permission. Read the complete original story at Airbornics Defence & Space Tests 28-ft Heavy Air Drop System for Indian Army Deployment
Tuesday, February 24, 2026