CUMI Whitepaper Maps the Future of Protection Systems in India’s Aerospace & Defence

Carborundum Universal Limited (CUMI), part of the 120-year Murugappa Group and a leader in materials science, has released a whitepaper titled “Redefining protection of man and machine in an evolving threat landscape” The paper explores how indigenously developed, globally benchmarked materials such as advanced ceramics, composites, and new-age materials are shaping next-generation protection systems across land, air, and sea.

On the macro front, these materials are fast accelerating India’s journey towards strategic self-reliance in defence. At the same time, through constant innovation, they are helping build future-ready protection systems that augment operational capabilities through next-gen tech integration.

The whitepaper distills key insights from CUMI’s extensive R&D and industry engagement:

• Lightweighting as a mission priority: Advanced ceramic personal armour and composite vehicle armour panels efficiently deliver high strength-to-weight ratios. This ensures comfort, agility, and advanced protection for soldiers, while enabling easy manoeuvrability and fuel efficiency in armoured vehicles.
• Building a strong domestic ecosystem for defence-critical materials: In the current geopolitical dynamic, developing a robust supply chain for mission-critical materials, components, and systems is key to securing supply and reducing import dependence.
• Multifunctional materials shaping the future: Advanced ceramics and composites are being engineered to combine the best of performance and protection in a single solution – whether it is armour with high ballistic resistance, light in weight, posing minimal risk of injury to the soldier on projectile impact, or thermal shielding, wear protection, and extended operational cycles for critical aero engine components.
• Sustainability while designing to defend: Advocating for sustainability in manufacturing and material use through innovations that result in longer-life, recyclable materials. These are fast-becoming strategic must-haves for key aerospace and defence requirements.

The release of this whitepaper builds on CUMI’s recent milestone of qualifying its ceramic composite vehicle protection panels at IABG Germany to meet STANAG 4569 Level 2 and Level 3 global standards. This makes CUMI one of the first Indian companies to achieve such certification for indigenously designed armour panels. Together, these initiatives underscore the company’s commitment to developing globally benchmarked, homegrown materials that enable advanced protection for our soldiers at the frontlines while supporting critical defence systems and infrastructure.

With over 7 decades of expertise in advanced materials, CUMI continues to serve as a trusted partner driving innovation across aerospace, defence, and diverse industrial applications. The company’s fully backward integrated operations, combined with its proactive R&D and testing initiatives, reflect a deep commitment to strengthening India’s in-house defence manufacturing capabilities in alignment with the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.