The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and the Indian Navy successfully carried out the first flight test of 'ADC-150' from IL 38SD aircraft off the coast of Goa. 'ADC-150' is an indigenously designed and developed 'Air Droppable Container' with 150 kg payload capacity. The test was conducted to enhance naval operational logistics capabilities to meet the requirement of engineering stores for ships (in distress) that are deployed more than 2,000 kilometers from the coast. This reduces the need for ships to come close to shore to collect spares and stores.
IL 38SD
The Ilyushin Il-38 "Dolphin" (NATO reporting name: MAY) is a maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft designed in the Soviet Union. It was a development of the Ilyushin IL-18 turboprop transport.
The 'ADC-150' container has been manufactured by three DRDO laboratories - Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam; Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra and Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bengaluru. It was awarded the critical flight clearance certification by the Regional Center for Military Airworthiness (RCMA), Kanpur, headed by the Center for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC), Bengaluru.