Safer touchdowns: Tejas fighter gets new parachute to boost landing

New Delhi,UPDATED: Dec 23, 2025 16:27 IST

India has introduced a significant safety enhancement for its Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas by inducting an indigenously developed Hybrid Brake Parachute, produced by Gliders India Ltd (GIL).

The system is designed to increase landing safety during high-speed recoveries and emergency scenarios, reflecting steps to modernise the country’s frontline fighter fleet. Officials highlight that the lightweight parachute reduces the aircraft’s landing run and offers greater operational flexibility at both short and advanced airfields.

The Hybrid Brake Parachute features a Uni-Cross main canopy, spanning 5.75 metres with a total area of 17 square metres. This configuration ensures stable and efficient deceleration, which is critical during high-speed landings or in adverse operational environments.

Weighing just 10 kilograms, the system combines low mass with robust performance, making it suitable for frequent operational deployment.

The parachute can be deployed at speeds up to 285 kmph under normal circumstances and up to 340 kmph in emergency situations. This capability reflects its durability and readiness for challenging combat scenarios, providing an added layer of safety for pilots during demanding operations.

The Hybrid Brake Parachute incorporates a multi-stage deployment mechanism, including pilot and auxiliary chutes, to maximize reliability during critical moments.

The system’s design ensures that it remains dependable, even when subjected to the stresses of operational fighter missions, which often require rapid turnaround times and swift response.

Defence officials state that the new system “enhances mission readiness while adding an important safety layer for pilots during demanding operations.”

Compact and high-performing, the new parachute is tailored for the unique requirements of modern fighter operations. Its lightweight structure eases installation and handling, contributing to faster aircraft turnaround on the ground and reducing maintenance demands for ground crews.

This upgrade is expected to reduce India’s reliance on imported safety systems, strengthening the country’s indigenous manufacturing capacity within the defence sector. The Ministry of Defence views this development as a step towards greater self-sufficiency, consistent with national objectives to support local industry and innovation.

For the Indian Air Force, the introduction of the Hybrid Brake Parachute represents an important advancement in pilot safety and aircraft survivability.

The upgrade reinforces confidence in India’s homegrown Tejas programme and marks a concrete move towards modernising India’s air defence assets through indigenous solutions.

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