Agra: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed P7 Heavy Drop System, which is capable of para dropping military stores up to seven-tonne weight class from IL-76 aircraft.

This system is fully indigenous under the Make in India programme and being manufactured by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) which makes the platform system, parachutes manufactured by Ordnance Factory, DRDO said.

“As part of mandatory requirement prior to accord Bulk Production Clearance (BPC), joint team of Indian Army, IAF and ADRDE conducted validation Trials at Agra on July 17, on two systems, which were dropped from IL-76 ac from an altitude of 600 metres at 280 kmph speed. The store landed safely with the help of cluster of five large size parachutes (750 sqm each),” according to a DRDO release.

The system would be a force multiplier for armed forces, while enabling the rapid delivery of combat store in the far flung inaccessible areas.

“The system has been manufactured with 100 per cent indigenous ferrous/ non ferrous materials. Engineering textiles for parachutes have been developed with the latest combination of Fluorocarbon and Silicon treatment to provide water/ oil repellency and improved abrasion resistance,” the release said.