Carborundum Universal to Provide Ceramic Armor for DRDO’s Vikram VT21 Platform

Chennai India: DRDO’s Vehicles Research and Development Establishment at Ahilyanagar has officially recognized Carborundum Universal Ltd (CUMI) as a partner of choice to armor the Vikram VT21 indigenously developed infantry combat vehicles. Vikram VT21, also known as the Advanced Armored Platform, is a family of eight-wheeled and tracked armored fighting vehicles developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) along with other industry partners.

CUMI was felicitated by GRM Rao, Director, Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE), during the recent event held in Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra, when Dr Samir V Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence (R&D) & Chairman, DRDO, flagged off the Vikram VT21 prototypes.

CUMI will supply its engineered ceramic composite panels to fortify these Advanced armored Platforms in line with STANAG 2 & 3 protection levels. Once commercialized, every Vikram VT21 vehicle will be equipped with around 300 customized panels that will safeguard its front and hull from armor piercing projectiles.

Subbu Venkatachalam, Head, Defence & Aerospace, Carborundum Universal Ltd, stated, “Our patented armor panels are custom-made for indigenous defence combat vehicles, while meeting stringent global standards. Given our expertise in advanced materials, world-class manufacturing setup and fully backward integrated operations, we have been able to successfully design and develop armor for soldiers and vehicles entirely in India, right from the raw material stage. Our commitment is to protect maximum lives on the frontline through our advanced material engineering solutions.”

In January 2026, CUMI became one of the first Indian manufacturers to qualify its entire powder-to-product advanced ceramics portfolio for body armor and vehicle armor across NIJ, BIS, and STANAG 4569 protection standards.

In October 2024, DRDO-DMRL had signed a Transfer of Technology agreement with CUMI to manufacture lightweight composite armor panels for armored vehicles such as the WhAP 8x8. India’s first indigenous amphibious wheeled infantry combat vehicle, the 8x8’s global design philosophy enables it to fulfill diverse roles for the military since its design is modular, scalable, and can be easily reconfigured.

The add-on armor composite panels are designed with customized ceramic segments. This is reinforced with an impact-, UV- and weather-resistant metallic mother plate. The segments, made of high-end technical ceramic grade of CUMI’s Zirconia Toughened Alumina, have been tested and qualified by DRDO-DMRL.

CUMI-DRDO Collaborations for Rapid Strides in Defence

Through its long-term association with DRDO and other defence organizations, CUMI has jointly developed cutting-edge materials and technology that offer frontline protection for Indian defence prototypes. This includes high-performance, lightweight, ceramic armor optimized for better mobility and maneuverability across terrains and improved ballistic protection through precision engineering, as well as impact, corrosion, and extreme weather resistance.

CUMI is also exploring closer technology collaborations with DRDO to develop next generation armor materials for superior protection against increasingly higher threat levels, and for future aerospace and defence electronics applications.

With significant investments in R&D and capacity expansion, the company is strengthening the sector’s capability to innovate in India not only by bridging supply gaps but also by harnessing the best talent to make globally-benchmarked materials available at scale for Indian defence manufacturers.

Image Source: Carborundum Universal Ltd