In a major step toward enhancing India’s maritime logistics capabilities, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy have successfully completed a series of in-flight release trials for the indigenous Air Droppable Container, ‘ADC-150’.
The trials were conducted off the coast of Goa between 21 February and 1 March.
Utilising a P8I aircraft, the teams executed four successful test drops under various extreme release conditions to validate the system’s reliability.
The ADC-150 is indigenously designed and developed to deliver a 150 kg payload.
This system is engineered to bolster naval operational logistics by providing a rapid response for vessels deployed in deep-sea (blue water) locations far from the coast.
“Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy jointly conducted four successful in-flight release trials of the indigenous Air Droppable Container ‘ADC-150’ from the P8I aircraft off the coast of Goa between February 21 to March 01, 2026, at different extreme release conditions,” the Ministry of Defence said in a statement on Tuesday, 10 March.
“Indigenously designed and developed to deliver 150 kg payload, the Air Droppable Container enhances the naval operational logistics capabilities for providing quick response to naval vessels under distress, needing critical stores/equipment, medical assistance etc. at blue sea deployed far from the coast,” the ministry added.
The project was a collaborative effort led by the Visakhapatnam-based Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL), which served as the nodal laboratory.
Aerial Delivery Research & Development Establishment, Agra has developed the parachute system and Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification, Bengaluru provided the flight clearance and certification.
Further, Defence Research and Development Laboratory, Hyderabad provided the instrumentation support for the trials.
The ADC-150 system for the P8I aircraft was developed and qualified in a short timeframe to meet the Indian Navy’s requirements.
“As all the developmental flight trials have been completed successfully, the system is expected to be inducted into the Indian Navy soon,” the ministry said.
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