It features only one firing handle (the face blind handle being deleted) and a new explosive gas system to operate canopy jettison, harness retraction and main gun firing, dispensing with previous mechanical systems of rods or cables.

As the seat moves up its guide rails an emergency oxygen supply is activated and personal equipment tubing and communication leads are automatically disconnected, leg restraints also operate.

[1] As the seat moves further up and out of the aircraft the rocket pack is fired by a lanyard attached to the cockpit floor.

A steel rod, known as the drogue gun, is fired and extracts two small parachutes to stabilise the seat's descent path.

[1] The Mk.9 ejection seat has been installed in the following aircraft types:[1] A Martin-Baker Mk.9A is on static display at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford.