PTC Industries has secured a design and development order from the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE) to develop a titanium cradle for the 105 mm Indian Light Weight Tank. This marks the company’s entry into design-led development of critical defence components.
In a regulatory filing, the company said it will design, develop, validate and manufacture the defence component for the first time, moving beyond its traditional build-to-print contracts. The project, which is expected to be completed over 2.5 years, does not have a disclosed contract value due to strategic and confidentiality considerations.
The titanium cradle is a key structural component of the tank system, supporting the main gun barrel and breech, housing the recoil mechanism and transferring firing forces to the turret structure. The component is being developed for the 105 mm Indian Light Weight Tank under DRDO’s indigenous armoured vehicle programme.
Titanium Components Gain Importance
Titanium is being adopted in defence platforms due to its high strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance and fatigue performance. It is suitable for lightweight military systems operating in challenging terrains, including high-altitude regions.
PTC Industries said successful development of the component could open opportunities to supply similar lightweight titanium parts for tanks, artillery systems and other land-based defence platforms. The order also aligns with the government’s push for greater self-reliance in defence manufacturing under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. |
