DRDO Successfully Tests Indigenous Life Support System for Tejas Fighter Jet.
Science and Technology
On March 4, 2025, the Defence Bio-Engineering & ElectroMedical Laboratory (DEBEL), a Bengaluru-based DRDO lab under the Ministry of Defence (MoD), successfully conducted high-altitude trials of the On-Board Oxygen Generating System (OBOGS)-based Integrated Life Support System (ILSS) for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.
- DEBEL, specialized in aerospace life-support systems, designed and developed the OBOGS-ILSS and tested it on the Tejas Prototype Vehicle-3 under extreme conditions, including altitudes up to 50,000 feet and high-G maneuvers, with validation from the Centre for Military Airworthiness & Certification (CEMILAC).
- Larsen & Toubro (L&T) manufactured the system under DRDO’s guidance, ensuring technical precision. The ILSS features 90% indigenous components, showcasing L&T’s capabilities and supporting India’s self-reliance goals.
- The OBOGS-ILSS replaces traditional liquid oxygen systems by generating oxygen in real time using molecular sieve technology. It integrates critical components like the Anti-Gravity Valve (Anti-G Valve) and Emergency Oxygen System (EOS) to enhance pilot safety during combat.
Main Point :- (i) The system’s development involved multiple R&D partners, including DEBEL, Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and the Indian Air Force (IAF), with certification and quality assurance from CEMILAC, Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DGAQA), and the National Flight Test Center (NFTC).
(ii) The OBOGS-ILSS eliminates reliance on imported liquid oxygen, enhances Tejas' combat readiness by providing a lighter and safer life-support system, and increases operational flexibility for the Indian Air Force.
(iii) The technology can be adapted for other fighter aircraft, including the MiG-29K, expanding its strategic impact beyond Tejas and strengthening India's defense capabilities.
About DRDO
Chairman : Dr Sameer Venkatapathy Kamat
Headquarters : New Delhi
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