Two Pune based Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) laboratories have signed transfer of technology agreements with private firms for the production of canopy severance system (CSS) for the endogenously developed light combat aircraft (LCA). The CSS facilitates smooth escape of the pilot in a shortest possible time during emergency of the military aircraft by pre-weakening the cockpit canopy.<br/><br/>The CSS is the state-of-the-art technology product, developed ab initio for the first time in India at the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), in association with the High Energy Material Research Limited (HEMRL), Pune, for the endogenously developed LCA Tejas and trainer HJT-36 Aircraft. Presently, the CSS has been installed in 15 Tejas, 12 HJT-36, 2 LCA Trainer & Naval versions and the first HTT-40 Aircraft. All aircraft are undergoing test flights with the CSS on board. The ARDE and HEMRL are now capable of developing the CSS for any military aircraft in India and abroad.<br/><br/>The CSS for the LCA has been designed as two separate independent sub-systems. The first, In-flight Egress System (IES) is for in-flight emergencies and is integrated with the main escape system operation, while another is the Ground Egress System (GES) for on-ground emergencies and is independent of the main escape system. <br/><br/>The agreements were signed on January 20 between DRDO's Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE) and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) and Hyderabad-based private industries M/s Gulf Oil Corporation Ltd and M/s Premier Explosives Ltd. These two firms would be supplying eight sets each in the first phase, after fulfilling all rigorous qualification and functional tests as applicable for air-borne systems.