DRDO demonstrates controlled aerial delivery system

December 20, 2021

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) demonstrated the Controlled Aerial Delivery System on December 19, 2021.

Key points

Flight demonstration of Controlled Aerial Delivery System was demonstrated by Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE).
The System was of 500 kg capacity (CADS-500).
Demonstration of the flight was part of series of activities that were organised to celebrate ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’.
System performance was demonstrated at Drop Zone, Malpura from an altitude of 5000m.
This system was para-dropped from AN32 aircraft. After that, it was steered to the predesignated landing point in autonomous mode.
Eleven paratroopers of Indian Army and Indian Air Force chased the system in air and landed simultaneously.

What is ‘CADS-500’?

The CADS-500 is used to deliver payload precisely up to 500 kgs at predetermined location. It makes use of manoeuvrable capabilities of Ram Air Parachute (RAP) to conduct such activities. It also uses Global Positioning System to get the coordinates and altitude & heading sensors to get heading information during its flight. The CADS, comprising of electronics unit, autonomously steers path of flight through waypoint navigation towards target location by operating controls.

About ADRDE

ADRDE is dubbed as the “Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE)”. It is a laboratory of Indian DRDO, located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. Research scope of ADRDE includes development of systems for dropping heavy loads, towed targets, brake parachutes, aerostats and aircraft arrester barriers. Important projects undertaken by ADRDE in recent times include: