DRDO’s Chandigarh lab to develop advanced e-fuses for munitions

[kurup]

In a radical departure from conventional mechanical fuses for various kinds of service ordnance and warheads, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is developing advanced electronic fuses for enhancing the lethality, safety, commonality and reliability of munitions.

The fuse is a very critical sub-system of ammunition and warheads which make them function at the right place and at the right time after launch. At the same time, it keeps them safe while in storage, handling or transportation.

Conventional fuses are mostly mechanical and pyrotechnic-based and their designs are based on chemical delays. Primary explosive-based initiators have inherent issues of inconsistency and safety due to their high sensitivity to heat, shock, friction and humidity and are susceptible to ageing. Consequently, there are associated reliability and safety issues. Moreover, conventional fuses are heavy, bigger in size and costly.

Advanced electronic fuses based on highly accurate and precise electronic timers and micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS)-based sensors and initiators will not only enhance safety, accuracy and reliability but also be cheaper than their older-generation counterparts.

It is estimated that about five million such fuses will be required in the next five years by the Indian armed forces.

The project is being undertaken by DRDO’s Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) at Chandigarh in collaboration with academia and industries.

TBRL Director Dr Manjit Singh said that the project is highly challenging in which many critical technologies like shock-mitigating materials, MEMS sensors capable of sustaining hyper acceleration, mini and micro detonators, secondary explosive-based initiators, ultra high energy density power sources etc would have to be developed in the next two to three years.

A comprehensive roadmap to achieve the goals in the given time frame has been chalked out and a dedicated team of about 20 scientists is working exclusively on this programme under project director Pravendra Kumar.

Dr Manjit Singh added that the adoption of these new technologies would not only enhance the safety but also increase the reliability due to reduction in the number of moving parts required for arming the fuse.

Why the change

• Conventional fuses are mostly mechanical and pyrotechnic-based and their designs are based on chemical delays
• Primary explosive-based initiators have inherent issues of inconsistency and safety due to their high sensitivity to heat, shock, friction and humidity. These are susceptible to ageing

• Conventional fuses are heavy, bigger in size and costly

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