Once commercialised, each Vikram VT21 will be fitted with about 300 customised panels developed by CUMI to protect its front and hull against armour‑piercing projectiles.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), India’s premier defence R&D agency, has officially recognised Carborundum Universal Ltd (CUMI) as a partner of choice to armour the Vikram VT21 indigenously developed infantry combat vehicles. Vikram VT21, also known as the Advanced Armoured Platform, is a family of eight‑wheeled and tracked armoured fighting vehicles developed by DRDO along with industry partners for the Indian Army.
CUMI, selected by DRDO’s Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE), will supply engineered ceramic composite panels to fortify these Advanced Armoured Platforms in line with STANAG 2 & 3 protection levels. Once commercialised, every Vikram VT21 vehicle will be equipped with around 300 customised panels safeguarding its front and hull from armour‑piercing projectiles.
Subbu Venkatachalam, Head of Defence & Aerospace, CUMI, said, “Our patented armour 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 armour for soldiers and vehicles entirely in India, right from the raw material stage.”
In January 2026, CUMI became one of the first Indian manufacturers to qualify its entire powder‑to‑product advanced ceramics portfolio for body armour and vehicle armour across NIJ, BIS and STANAG 4569 protection standards.
Earlier, in October 2024, DRDO and Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL) signed a transfer of technology agreement with CUMI to manufacture lightweight composite armour panels for armoured vehicles such as the WhAP 8×8, India’s first indigenous amphibious wheeled infantry combat vehicle. The 8×8’s modular design enables diverse military roles and easy reconfiguration.
The add‑on armour composite panels are designed with customised ceramic segments reinforced with an impact‑, UV‑ and weather‑resistant metallic mother plate. The segments, made of CUMI’s zirconia toughened alumina, have been tested and qualified by DRDO‑DMRL.
Through its long‑term association with DRDO and other defence organisations, CUMI has jointly developed cutting‑edge materials offering frontline protection for Indian defence prototypes. These include lightweight ceramic armour optimised for mobility across terrains, improved ballistic protection through precision engineering, and resistance to impact, corrosion and extreme weather.
CUMI is also exploring closer technology collaborations with DRDO to develop next‑generation armour materials for superior protection against higher threat levels, and for future aerospace and defence electronics applications.