Use of composite materials in indigenously developed aircraft, missiles and in defence and civilian sectors is poised for big growth, where Indian companies are set to get into manufacturing mode.
Avinash Chander, Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister, and Secretary and Director-General, DRDO, said India has developed technologies for composite materials and these would increasingly find their way into products and then into various usages.
Speaking at the International Conference and Exhibition on Reinforced Plastics, he said the potential for composite materials in defence sector alone is projected to be about Rs 20,000 crore over the next few years, where Indian companies are gearing up to play a role in supplying products and materials by manufacturing them locally, either directly or through joint ventures with global manufacturing companies.
Citing examples, he said in Agni for instance, 90 per cent of materials are based on composite structures and in the Light Combat Aircraft, it is poised to go up from 65 per cent to 85 per cent. Its usage in unmanned aerial vehicles, radars etc is also poised to increase where opportunities abound for local manufacturing firms.
Referring to civilian applications, he said composite materials, when used in the railways and particularly faster trains, would make trains lighter and improve efficiencies. All these will in turn help grow the business for composite materials, he said.
The conference and exhibition is expected to help the Indian composite material market. The event is being jointly organised by the Fibreglass Industries Association of Andhra Pradesh.