Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur
Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur, is a strategically important laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation. It was founded in May 1959 to address issues pertaining to desert warfare. It does studies on radio-wave propagation and physiology. Research is being done on integrated water management, camouflage, electronics and communications, navigation and transportation systems, weaponry, ammunition, storage spaces, and radioisotope applications.
The Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur has developed several nuclear radiation monitoring systems, Chaff technology, and camouflage techniques for the Indian Armed Forces.
Projects
Cool vest jacket
DLJ created a Cool vest jacket that was tested in Shahgarh Bulge in 2012 together with a cap. Packets of phase-change material are stored in the twelve pockets on the front and back of the Cool jacket. For around 2-4 hours, it helps keep the body cool. They can then be reused after being stored in a deep freezer for recharging. The body temperature can be kept below 30°C wearing the jacket. As the blood flows through the circulatory system, the phase-change material cools the body's soft tissues and captures the excess heat. It works on latent heat absorption and can run for 1,000 recharge cycles. The jacket weighs, and costs ₹2,000-4,000. The phase-change material have a shelf life of over six months.Derald Nuclear
In the event of a nuclear accident, DLJ's Derald Nuclear sensor can identify radiation levels. It can be installed on a drone to aid in the detection of gamma radiation up to 50 meters in the air. The sensor and its electrical circuit weigh between 20 and 22 grams. The sensor price is about ₹20,000.Chaff
Chaff Rocket
The DRDO lab created the Short Range Chaff Rocket, Medium Range Chaff Rocket, and Long Range Chaff Rocket in 2021 to satisfy the qualitative chaff requirements of the Indian Navy. All three types were tested by the Indian Navy on Indian Naval ships in the Arabian Sea, and the results were deemed acceptable. The Navy ships fire chaff rockets to confuse the guidance system of incoming radar tracking missiles. The chaff is made up of several tiny fibers coated with zinc or aluminum. To obtain the technology, the Indian Navy partnered with DRDO in 2022.Medium Range-Microwave Obscurant Chaff Rocket
The Indian Navy received the MR-MOCR on June 26, 2024. It reduces radar detection by blocking radar signals and forming a microwave shield around platforms. MR-MOCR is made up of a unique kind of fiber filled in a medium-range chaff rocket. The fibers have a diameter of a few microns and have microwave obscuration qualities. When fired, the rocket creates a microwave obscurant cloud that spreads over a large area and has a long enough persistence time to effectively protect against hostile threats that have RF seekers. The MOC cloud blooming and persistence in space were demonstrated in Phase-I trials carried out from Indian naval ships. An aerial target's RCS reduction of up to 90% has been proven in Phase-II trials.Chaff material and chaff cartridge-118/I
Together with High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Defense Laboratory created the advanced chaff material and chaff cartridge-118/I in 2021 to satisfy the Indian Air Force's quality standards. Following the successful completion of user trials, the IAF began the process of introducing this technology. To ensure the safety of the fighter aircraft, very little DRDO-developed chaff material needs to be used in the air as a decoy to divert incoming missiles. In order to meet the IAF's yearly rolling requirement, the technology has been passed to the private sector for large-scale production. To obtain the technology, the IAF partnered with DRDO in 2022.Water Purification
CBRN Water Purification System
For the Indian Armed Forces, DLJ has created a high-altitude deployable CBRN Water Purification System. CBRN WPS Mk-1 and CBRN WPS Mk-2 are the two variants. The Mk-1 is designed for plains and deserts, and it cannot function <1°C. The Mk-2 can work in extremely cold temperatures and is designed for high elevations. The Indian Army has ten CBRN WPS Mk-1 as of 2022. For Mk-2, DLJ has produced two prototypes. One is deployed with XIV Corps. The Mk-2 can function in temperatures between -20°C to 55°C. At Pangong Tso, the CBRN WPS Mk-2 was tested at an elevation of more than. An order has been placed by the Indian Army and Indian Air Force to purchase 54 Mk-2 systems. The purification capacity of CBRN WPS Mk-2 is between 2,500 and 6,000 liters per hour.Water Radioactivity Contamination Monitoring System (Beta, Gamma)
The Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur developed WRCMS for use with CBRN WPS Mk-2 to monitor radioactivity caused by beta and gamma radioisotopes in water. The system was created to gauge the degree of contamination in feed and filtered water in the event of a nuclear or radioactive disaster. A thorough design, production, and validation procedure led to the development of WRCMS. It can be used in deserts, plains, and high altitudes, and it can store water at below-freezing temperatures. The system is vehicle-compatible and detachable. It weighs 35 kg when not packaged and 65 kg when packaged. It has a γ-Nal scintillator for gamma radioisotope identification and a β-plastic scintillator. With audio and video warning adjustment alarms, gross activity calculation, and contamination report creation, the minimal detectable activity is less than 100 Bq/L. The system is MIL-STD-461E compliant, and can work in 50-550°C. It includes a control and display unit, and is EMI/EMC compatible. It follows JSS 55555 guidelines.Radar Absorbing Paint
The Defence Laboratory created Polyurethane based Radar Absorbing Paint in 2023 to help military aircraft become more stealthy against hostile radars by lowering their radar signature. The results of using the RAP on IAF platforms, such as the Mikoyan MiG-29 fighter jets, were positive. It is designed to be applied to strategic targets for radar cross section reduction utilizing magnetic functional filler material. RAP's polyurethane resin structure offers exceptional resilience to weathering and can survive extremely high and low temperatures. To achieve the best radar absorption capabilities, a magnetic functional filler material of a certain size and shape has been added to the resin matrix in the suitable ratio. The proposed paint can be applied to both land-based and airborne strategic targets. Carbon nanotubes and other materials are used in RAP to produce a coating that has a broad frequency range of electromagnetic wave absorption.More than 90% microwave absorption, room temperature drying and curing for field use, thermal stability at both high and low temperatures, and resistance to hydraulic oil, water, and air turbine fuel are all demonstrated by the RAP. It can be applied to Al/Al alloy and carbon-fiber reinforced polymer composite surfaces without compromising their structural qualities, and it can survive thermal shock cycling and aerodynamic vibration. It will be used in HAL Tejas Mk2.