DRDO in collaboration with the Indian Navy successfully conducted the maiden test trials of India's first indigenously designed and developed Air Dropped Container from an IL-38SD aircraft off the coast of Goa.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) along with the Indian Navy conducted the successful maiden test trial of 'SAHAYAK-NG' India's first indigenously designed and developed Air Dropped Container from IL-38SD aircraft off the coast of Goa.

As per an official statement, the trial was conducted by the Indian Navy to enhance its operational logistics capabilities and provide critical engineering stores to ships that are deployed more than 2000 kilometers from the coast. "It reduces the requirement of ships to come close to the coast to collect spares and stores," it stated.

Two DRDO laboratories - Naval Science and Technological Laboratory, Visakhapatnam and Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment, Agra - were involved in the development of the SAHAYAK-NG container along with the industry partner Avantel for GPS integration. "SAHAYAK-NG is an advanced version of SAHAYAK Mk I. The newly developed GPS aided air dropped container is having the capability to carry a payload that weighs up to 50 kilograms and can be dropped from heavy aircraft," it added.