India's DRDO Creates Indigenous Armour Panels 20% Lighter for Future Army Combat Vehicles

Key facts

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation's (DRDO) Research and Development Establishment (Engineers), R&DE(E), in Pune has developed indigenous armour panels that are 20 percent lighter than existing systems while meeting STANAG 4569 Level 6 protection against 30 mm armour-piercing ammunition.
• The panels are intended for future main battle tanks, light tanks and Future Infantry Combat Vehicles (FICVs), and in-house trials are complete with the panels meeting the force's operational requirements internally.
• STANAG 4569 is a NATO standard setting protection levels for military vehicles; Level 6 covers high-velocity 30 mm armour-piercing rounds, including APFSDS types in some classifications, at a reference distance of 500 metres, mainly on the frontal arc.
• The technology was formally listed for transfer to industry around October 1, 2026, under DRDO's Transfer of Technology (ToT) programme (Category A) with three manufacturing licences on offer, and several leading companies have shown interest.
• No vehicle programme has formally selected the panels yet, but the work is relevant to platforms such as the Zorawar light tank and future FICV and MBT projects.
• DRDO officials said the new panels are designed to address battlefield threats including armour-piercing ammunition, anti-tank guided missiles, rocket-propelled grenades, mines, improvised explosive devices and drones.
• An Army officer noted that since tanks are used extensively in mountain regions, the lighter armour offers a new advantage for armoured troops in mountain warfare.