DRDO and CSIR partner to develop lightweight bulletproof glass

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has partnered with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) on a ₹50-crore initiative to develop indigenous, lightweight bulletproof glass for Indian armoured military vehicles.

The four-year project involves the CSIR-Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute (CSIR-CGCRI) and DRDO laboratories, including the Naval Materials Research Laboratory in Maharashtra and the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory in Chandigarh. The technology utilizes high-strength, transparent nanocrystalline glass-ceramics, which feature nanometre-sized crystals dispersed within a glass matrix to provide exceptional toughness and ballistic strength.

A primary goal of the program is to replace imported transparent armour, aiming to reduce both weight and thickness by 30 to 50 per cent. This reduction is intended to enhance the fuel efficiency, operational mobility, and payload capacity of military vehicles. The project seeks to transition from laboratory development to large-scale commercial manufacturing through a domestic industry partner to be selected by DRDO.