DRDO indigenous OBOG schematic diagram

Pilot-in-Loop Testing of On-Board Oxygen Generating System centric Integrated Life Support System Defence Bio-Engineering and Electro Medical Laboratory (DEBEL), Bangalore has developed On-Board Oxygen Generating System (OBOGS) centric Integrated Life Support System to provide enhanced physiology protection to aircrew of fighter aircraft flying at high altitude.

OBOGS replaces liquid oxygen system by utilising bleed air from the aircraft engine and separating its components using molecular sieve (Zeolite) Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) technology. The system consists of two molecular sieve beds with oxygen plenum to continuously provide breathing gas to aircrew. Use of OBOGS technology eliminates the logistic tail associated with liquid oxygen system, improves safety, reduces aircraft turnaround time, extends mission duration and significantly lowers operational cost.

DEBEL carried out the Pilot-in-Loop testing of ILSS in High Altitude Decompression Chamber under simulated altitudes with test pilot of Tejas as the subject from 15 August 2019 to 6 September 2019. Performance of the system has been found at par with conventional oxygen system in use. The Pilot-in-Loop test has been demonstrated to Programme Director (CA) & Director, ADA in the presence of CE (A), CEMILAC, and representatives of RCMA(A/C), ARDCHAL, DGAQA and ADA. The flight trials of the system will be carried out on Tejas PV-3 aircraft by the middle of next year.