DRDO conducts Design Validation Trial of Vertical Shaft based Underground Ammunition Storage Structure

Centre of Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES), a Delhi-based laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has designed and developed a Vertical Shaft based Underground Ammunition Storage Facility. It enables upward vertical dissipation of blast effects considerably reducing the blast effect on surrounding utilities.

The Design Validation Trial of this Underground Ammunition Storage Structure was successfully conducted on April 30, 2023. The instrumented blast trial was carried out in the presence of the Armed Forces by detonating 5,000 kgs of TNT in one of the chambers of the underground facility.

The CFEES team conducted the trial with precision and utmost safety in place. All the parameters recorded during the trial matched with estimated values. This facility will ensure that an explosion within will not cause damage to the adjacent chamber and also ensure full operability of the remaining facility.

The Armed Forces find it difficult to stock ammunition as required by them due to the non-availability of adequate land as large safety distances are required for ammunition storage structures. The safety distances considerably reduce, when ammunition is stored underground. Based on the results of the instrumented trials, the safety distance has been established up to 120 Metric Tons (40 Metric Ton Net Explosive Content) of ammunition storage per chamber. The unique design developed has the additional advantage of reducing Safety Distances and Costs by 50 percent as compared to current designs. The design also ensures the higher safety of ammunition stored from any kind of aerial attack or sabotage.

DRDO & Indian Navy conduct successful maiden test trial of indigenous Air Droppable Container ‘ADC-150’ from IL-38SD aircraft off Odisha coast

Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Navy conducted the successful maiden test trial of ‘ADC-150’ from IL 38SD aircraft off the coast of Goa on April 27, 2023. ‘ADC-150’ is an indigenously designed and developed Air Droppable Container with a 150 kg payload capacity. The trial was conducted to enhance the naval operational logistics capabilities by providing quick response to meet the requirement of critical engineering stores to ships (under distress), which are deployed more than 2,000 kms from the coast. It reduces the requirement for ships to come close to the coast to collect spares and stores.

Three DRDO laboratories – Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam; Aerial Delivery Research & Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra and Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bengaluru – have been involved in the development of ADC-150 container. The crucial flight clearance certification was given by Regional Center for Military Airworthiness (RCMA), Kanpur headed by the Centre for Military Airworthiness & Certification (CEMILAC), Bengaluru.

Secretary, Department of Defence R&D & Chairman DRDO has congratulated the scientists and the Indian Navy for the successful trial of ADC-150.

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