DRDO-IIT Delhi Creates Lightweight Bulletproof Jackets

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced on Wednesday that DRDO, in collaboration with researchers from IIT Delhi, has developed bullet-proof jackets that are lightweight and designed to withstand high energy. These jackets are known as ABHED (advanced ballistics for high energy defeat). The jackets were created at the DIA-CoE at IIT Delhi.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has established collaborative research facilities, known as DRDO-industry-academia Centres of Excellence (DIA-CoE), at distinguished academic institutes in the country, pursuant to directives from the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

These encompass “directed research ecosystems” that prioritize collaboration between the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) and DRDO laboratories.

According to its website, “DIA-CoEs will conduct research in the development of cutting-edge technologies and in the areas of denied defense technologies.”

Indian soldiers have been suffering casualties for decades due to the scarcity of bullet-proof jackets that can withstand the impact of bullets fired by terrorists and Pakistani army soldiers. That will no longer be the case.

“The jackets’ armor plates have successfully completed all required research and development trials in accordance with the established protocols.” The jackets exceed the Indian Army’s maximum weight limits and satisfy the most severe threat levels. “These modular-design jackets, which feature front and rear armor, offer 360-degree protection, with a minimum possible weight of 8.2 kg and 9.5 kg for varying BIS Levels,” a MoD release stated.

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) described the breakthrough as follows: “These jackets have been made from polymers and indigenous boron carbide ceramic material.” The design configuration is derived from the characterization of a variety of materials at a high strain rate, which is subsequently followed by the appropriate modeling and simulation in collaboration with the DRDO.

According to the Ministry of Defense, the private sector will be responsible for the production of bullet-proof jackets. “In accordance with the selection-criteria matrix, certain Indian industries were identified for technology transfer and assistance.” The technology is prepared to be transferred to three industries by the Centre.

15 DIA-CoEs have been established by the DRDO thus far. The research verticals of those partnering with IIT Delhi include the following technologies: Advanced Ballistics and Protection, Advanced Electromagnetic Devices and Terahertz technologies, Brain Computer Interface and Brain Machine Intelligence, Photonic Technologies, Plasmonics, Laser and Quantum Photonics, and Smart and Intelligent Textile Technologies.

The objective of these DIA-CoEs is to leverage and synergize the combined capabilities of academia, the student community, research fellows, niche technology industries, and DRDO scientists to stimulate research and innovation in the identified futuristic defense technological domains.