An indigenous composite armour system developed by researchers at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham has completed multiple evaluations by the Indian Army and is being considered for deployment on armoured platforms to enhance protection against drone, blast and ballistic threats, according to the university.
The technology, named the Maharana Pratap Singh Composite Armour, was developed by a research team led by Shantanu Bhowmik of the university's Department of Aerospace Engineering in collaboration with ACE Gas Conversions, Mumbai.
According to the developers, the lightweight hybrid composite armour is designed to protect military platforms against drone-delivered explosives, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), battlefield blasts and ballistic threats while maintaining operational mobility.
The project underwent blast trials at the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) in Chandigarh under the Ministry of Defence. It was later reviewed during a defence evaluation meeting at Amrita University's Coimbatore campus that was attended by representatives of the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and other national security agencies.
The university said the technology subsequently underwent field validation by the Indian Army. During 2025, the Army explored the use of composite armour as protective shielding for tanks against top-attack drone munitions. In January 2026, additional field trials were initiated under Army supervision, with composite armour panels supplied by the research team for operational evaluation.
According to the release, the most recent assessment took place at the Babina Field Firing Ranges, where the armour was evaluated by the Indian Army's 31 Armoured Division. During the trials, a 110-kg composite armour plate measuring one metre by one metre reportedly withstood the impact of an improvised explosive charge designed to simulate battlefield conditions.
The university said the Army, in an official communication, noted that the armour demonstrated the ability to sustain explosive impacts and showed potential for strengthening military equipment against blast and IED threats.
The developers said the system combines multiple protective features within a single platform. Besides blast resistance, the armour is designed to provide ballistic protection against AK-203 assault rifle and light machine gun fire, incorporates soundproofing characteristics and can be adapted for use on armoured vehicles, military infrastructure and other defence applications.
The announcement comes as armed forces globally are examining new protection technologies to address the growing threat posed by low-cost drones, loitering munitions and top-attack weapons, which have featured prominently in recent conflicts.
Shantanu Bhowmik said the armour was named after Maharana Pratap to reflect resilience and battlefield reliability, adding that it is the outcome of nearly a decade of research in advanced hybrid composite materials.
According to the university, discussions are underway regarding the potential deployment of the armour system following the completion of Army evaluations. The release described the project as an example of collaboration among academia, industry and the armed forces in developing indigenous defence technologies. |
