Defence Research and Development Laboratory

The Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL) was set up in 1963 at Hyderabad with the objective of “developing and manufacturing complex metals and materials required for modern sophisticated warfare and weapon systems.” Since then, the lab has developed competence in the areas of “powder metallurgy based fabrication and development of alloys, armor and rocket motor steel, aerospace light alloys, and magnetic materials.” The formation of other entities such as the Mishra Dhatu Nigam Ltd., Heavy Alloy Penetrator Plant, Composites Production Centre, Non-Ferrous Technology Development Centre, and the Advanced Research Centre International followed the establishment of DMRL. The DMRL is also involved in R&D efforts to develop “futuristic materials” to provide “advanced technology options.”

Projects Developed

• Ultra-high-strength steel with the toughness combination equivalent to maraging steel; this steel has been used to build rocket motor casings for the Akash surface-to-air missiles.
• Heavy alloy “pre-fragments” for Prithvi missile warheads developed for use against “aerial targets.”
• “OFE copper” for the Nag anti-tank guided missile sheets.
• “Special magnetic materials” such as “samarium-cobalt ring magnets” and “neodymium-iron-boron magnets” in collaboration with the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre for applications in the space program.