DRDO's research programmes on nano materials

Bangalore, Sept 3: The Defence Research Development Organisation has taken up development of Nano materials in a big way for application in both defence and civilian sectors realising its importance in future technologies, DRDO Chief Controller A Sivathanu Pillai said.

Talking to newpersons here, Dr Pillai said DRDO had established a full scale facility to produce various kinds of nano materials in different forms at Defence Materials Research Lab at Kanpur.

It had facility to produce carbon nano cubes, carbon fibres, various forms of carbon nano materials for sensors and satellite systems. ''We have an organised programme in DRDO under smart material programme. We are also funding various academic institutions for developing nano technology,'' he said.

Dr Pillai said in future lot of things would be dependent on nano technology. Like the information technology boom, nano technology would also have a big influence in the coming years. The convergence of IT, recent advancements made in bio technology and the nano technology would find wide usage mainly in the fields of industry and health care. There would be a major change in healthcare with the advent of nano technological devises, he said.

On induction of indigenously produced Light Combat Aircraft in the Indian Air Force, he said the HAL, which was producing the fighter, had received an order for 20 aircrafts. The programme had already been lined up and the delivery would be worked out by arriving at a mutually agreed schedule by the HAL, IAF and the DRDO.

''We have completed 600 hours of test flights and remaining will be completed in time to get the final operational clearance.

However, IAF decided not to wait till that time and placed the orders. The earlier problem about fitting the Kaveri engine had now been overcome by setting aside that idea. The groundwork for production is now complete, he said.

UNI