Expert moots learning centres in defence technologies at IITs

[Daedalus]

The country needs to set up centres of excellence to promote advanced skills in the rarefied field of propellants, explosives and pyrotechnics.

These centres may be set up at premium institutions such as IITs, says B Bhattacharya, Director of Pune-based High Energy Materials Research Laboratory.

HIGH ENERGY MATERIALS

He said this while inaugurating a three-day International High Energy Materials Conference here on Thursday.

Research and application have advanced significantly in this field in the last 20 years through the use of new materials and new modelling techniques. “India is a large importer of defence systems. This needs to change. Arms and ammunition need to be manufactured in-house,” Bhattacharya said.

This needs not just pure research but also high quality R&D on user-driven requirements. The country does a business of ₹15,000 crore in high energy materials every year.

But 75 per cent of the money goes for importing technology, he added.

JOINT VENTURES

We should work with the international community not only for exchange of latest ideas in the domain but also for setting up joint ventures to help build technology. “We must aim to bring down the cost of R&D in this area,” Bhattacharya said.

S Ramakrishnan, Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, explained how technology has matured enough to make available 200 tonne-capacity boosters now.

“High energy materials such as propellants and pyro devices contribute to 90 per cent of the lift-off weight of rockets,” he said. In fact, propulsion itself is a controlled explosion.

So the first leg of any mission abundantly uses these materials. Other activities during the flight such as stage separation and deployment of spacecraft also need them.

GSLV Mk III, the giant rocket capable of injecting four-ton satellites into geo-synchronous orbits of 36,000 km in altitude, too needs them.

SAFETY PRECAUTION

Manjit Singh, Director of Chandigarh-based Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, said that safety precautions should be adhered to strictly while working in this field.

The test methodology need to be improved and standardised as there is considerable technological gap between India and the international community right now.

The country needs to do a thorough research on how to dispose unusable arms and ammo safely. Environment-friendly disposing methods need to be developed.

MC Dathan, Director, Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, Mahendragiri, said that there is a need to further improve the solid state fuel technology.

There are lots of advantages in using solid state fuels. They are low-cost, less complex and highly reliable.

Suitable combination of solid, liquid and cryo fuels can effectively propel any complex rocket systems.

Composites-based rockets can help reduce mass, he added.

Expert moots learning centres in defence technologies at IITs | Business Line

 

[amitkriit]

The professor at IIT KGP who was teaching us Structural Engineering was also involved in the GSLV project. He used to talk about few new ideas which became part of the project with us, those stories acted as huge motivation in an otherwise dull and extremely tough course. Also, some professors were involved in the HAL Tejas project. The campus also has a cryogenic lab.

We need lot of investment in the fields of Metallurgy, Material Science, Manufacturing Science and Instrumentation. These fields are not like the IT, they require lot of investment and test facilities. In fact the investment has started to flow.

Unfortunately the quality of research is low because of the low quality intake of the Research Scholars. We need to provide better incentives to people who wish to pursue PHD and/or wish to become professors.

 

[Daedalus]

The professor at IIT KGP who was teaching us Structural Engineering was also involved in the GSLV project. He used to talk about few new ideas which became part of the project with us, those stories acted as huge motivation in an otherwise dull and extremely tough course. Also, some professors were involved in the HAL Tejas project. The campus also has a cryogenic lab.

We need lot of investment in the fields of Metallurgy, Material Science, Manufacturing Science and Instrumentation. These fields are not like the IT, they require lot of investment and test facilities. In fact the investment has started to flow.

This is interesting, which IIT are you studying in?

We need lot of investment in the fields of Metallurgy, Material Science, Manufacturing Science and Instrumentation. These fields are not like the IT, they require lot of investment and test facilities. In fact the investment has started to flow.
Unfortunately the quality of research is low because of the low quality intake of the Research Scholars. We need to provide better incentives to people who wish to pursue PHD and/or wish to become professors.

This is what India needs at the moment- investment, infrastructure and researcher. Lots of projects which are done by primary institutes, can be outsourced to IIT's. I'm aware that this is happening (like the lunar rover) but its on the small scale. DRDO, ISRO, and other primary institutes need to up their game and need to give these young minds of India (like yourself) a chance. This will also create some interest in pursuing their career here in India instead of looking for a greener pasture aboard.

 

[amitkriit]

This is interesting, which IIT are you studying in?


This is what India needs at the moment- investment, infrastructure and researcher. Lots of projects which are done by primary institutes, can be outsourced to IIT's. I'm aware that this is happening (like the lunar rover) but its on the small scale. DRDO, ISRO, and other primary institutes need to up their game and need to give these young minds of India (like yourself) a chance. This will also create some interest in pursuing their career here in India instead of looking for a greener pasture aboard.

IIT Kharagpur. I am 2007 batch. The cryogenic lab was established while I was there. IIT Kharagpur had a critical role to play in the HAL Tejas Project (Institute proudly displays a model of the HAL Tejal at the entry of the main building). They have even set up a VLSI lab inside the campus to manufacture electronics for strategic needs, the lab alone generates a profit of more than 100 crore INR each year for the institute. The Metallurgy department had received a huge grant from the government during my final year.

So I guess things are moving in the right direction.

 

[Daedalus]

IIT Kharagpur. I am 2007 batch. The cryogenic lab was established while I was there. IIT Kharagpur had a critical role to play in the HAL Tejas Project (Institute proudly displays a model of the HAL Tejal at the entry of the main building). They have even set up a VLSI lab inside the campus to manufacture electronics for strategic needs, the lab alone generates a profit of more than 100 crore INR each year for the institute. The Metallurgy department had received a huge grant from the government during my final year.

So I guess things are moving in the right direction.

That's something to be proud of.

 

[thesolar65]

Why only IITs. Give chances to all universities and Engg colleges. Many NITs perform better than some IITs (for example). Better late than Never!!

 

[amitkriit]

Why only IITs. Give chances to all universities and Engg colleges. Many NITs perform better than some IITs (for example). Better late than Never!!

I agree completely. Universities must get more funds for research, beyond that universities must generate their own funds like most of the old IITs are already doing.