Historical Background

Aerial Delivery Research & Development Establishment was started in Kanpur during the later part of 1950s, consisting of two Aerial Delivery Sections, namely - Chief Inspectorate of Textiles & Clothing (CIT & C) and Chief Inspectorate of General Stores (CIGS) under the control of Director General of Inspection (DGI).

Primarily, these two sections were responsible for the indigenization of parachutes and related equipment's for paradropping of men and materials. Subsequently, these sections moved over to Agra during 1965 and transfigured into a full-fledge establishment called Chief Inspectorate of Aerial Delivery Equipment (CIADE). This DGI establishment came under the fold of DRDO in May 1968 and ADRDE was established in January 1969 at Agra. During the resurgence of DRDO in 1980, the activities of this establishment were reviewed and ADRDE was brought under cover of Directorate of Aeronautics.