Ahmedabad: When the experts at IIT Delhi (IIT-D) took up a project to reduce the weight of bulletproof vests for security forces a couple of years ago, the challenge was manifold. The experts were expected to ensure safety from three consecutive bullets from a rifle like the AK-47 and also stop a bullet from a sniper rifle.Prof Naresh Bhatnagar from IIT-D shared the journey of development of Advanced Ballistics for High Energy Defeat (ABHED) at the DRDO Industry Academia Centre of Excellence (DIA CoE). He spoke at the International Conference on Composite Materials and Technologies (InCoMat 2026) at Ahmedabad University on Friday.Hemant Chouhan, associate professor in the School of Engineering and Applied Science at Ahmedabad University, who was part of the project at IIT-D, said that the use of composite materials helped them achieve the same or greater efficiency at reduced weight. These jackets were created using polymers and indigenous boron carbide ceramic material. “Reduction of even a few grams makes a lot of difference for the armed forces personnel,” he said.The event saw participation from Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Space Application Centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation (SAC Isro), the Indian Army, academia and industry. Makarand Joshi, director of R&DE (Engg) at DRDO, elaborated on multiple projects taken up by the organisation for the requirements of the armed forces, including noses for fighter jets and bridges that can take the weight of tanks in movements.Nilesh Desai, director of SAC Isro, said that the space sector is a major frontier for composite materials due to its qualities, and said that they are working closely with organisations such as Ahmedabad Textile Industry’s Research Association (Atira) for the same. Major General Gaurav Bagga, GOC of Golden Katar Division of the Indian Army, said that they look forward to researchers and innovators ensuring the safety of the armed forces through innovations in composite materials.Speakers also elaborated on the challenges and opportunities for the science of composite materials, its varied applications, and the amalgamation of various disciplines of science to create diverse classes of materials based on requirement.
