From testing payloads for manned missions to space to critical fuses for missile warheads, India has built its own indigenous capabilities in Chandigarh.

The facility is a 4-km long Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) Penta Rail Supersonic Track at the TBRL, a laboratory under the Defence Research and Development Organisation. It was formally launched on Monday by the Scientific Adviser to the Raksha Mantri, Avinash Chander.

“India is among a handful of countries possessing this unique test facility. It will be useful for testing a wide range of critical systems such as the navigation system for missiles and aircrafts, proximity fuses for advanced warheads and arrester systems for aircraft such as the LCA,” said Avinash Chander in a press release.

Explaining the facility, Manjit Singh, Director TBRL, said the facility consists of five rails, each having a length of 4 km, on which a test article can be propelled at supersonic speed with the help of specially designed rockets.

The track is precision aligned and capable of withstanding high loads. The capability so acquired will accelerate the pace of development of defence and aerospace technologies and products in the country, he added.

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