CUMI Secures IABG Germany Certification for Ballistic-Grade Ceramic Panels
Chennai May 29th, 2025: Leading materials science company Carborundum Universal Limited (CUMI) announced that it has successfully qualified its ceramic ballistic protection materials at Industrieanlagen-Betriebsgesellschaft MBH (IABG) in Germany. CUMI is one of the first Indian companies to have its advanced ceramic composite panels certified by IABG in line with STANAG 4569 Level 2 and Level 3 global protection standards. IABG is internationally recognised by defence and aerospace industry and authorities for their independent testing services.
Ensuring robust safety and security of people, vehicles, and assets calls for stronger and lighter materials – such as advanced ceramics – used in modern armoured solutions. The indigenisation and innovation of defence-critical products underscore India’s pursuit of a robust domestic supply chain and Atmanirbharta (self-reliance). CUMI has been at the forefront of this effort – right from indigenous raw material and component production to R&D in advanced materials, as well as proactive testing & certification of their products.
Subbu Venkatachalam, Head of Defence and Aerospace, CUMI, said: “Armour is the first line of defence for both people and vehicles. At CUMI, we have built a robust library of advanced materials to design and manufacture composite armour panels that meet the highest global standards. Our IABG-certified panels are engineered for a wide range of applications — from civil security and VVIP protection to police, paramilitary, and, most critically, armoured military vehicles. As a trusted manufacturer of defence-critical materials for India, we uphold the highest standards of quality with one unwavering goal: saving lives. This proactive step to validate our products through international testing reflects our deep commitment to delivering uncompromised protection for those who protect us.”
CUMI’s ceramic armour products are designed to be exceptionally lightweight while offering outstanding protection technology. The rigorous testing at IABG’s facilities included two of CUMI’s flagship vehicle protection solutions — composite armour panels in four different grades, manufactured using Reaction Bonded Silicon Carbide (RBSiC) and Zirconia Toughened Alumina (ZTA). The test results at IABG returned with a ‘ND’ or ‘No Damage’ result – the highest, most coveted qualifier for armoured products – affirming the quality and efficacy of CUMI’s advanced ceramics and composite panel design.
The ZTA-based add-on composite armour panels have been developed as per the recent Transfer of Technology (ToT) signed between CUMI and DRDO-DMRL to ensure exceptional ballistic protection for a range of military vehicles. The certification of the ZTA ceramic armour panels has further strengthened the long-standing association of trust and innovation with DRDO-DMRL.
Dr. S. Christopher, former Chairman, DRDO commented: “India can attain self-sufficiency only when the public and private sectors operate in tandem to achieve mission-critical priorities. By pursuing international qualification for indigenous armour products with globally accredited testing agencies like IABG, private players in the ecosystem are showcasing the strength of our R&D and manufacturing capabilities as being on par with global standards.”
Add-on ceramic composite armour has emerged as a strong yet lightweight material, addressing key challenges in vehicle protection. Its ability to withstand multiple hits and absorb kinetic energy makes it ideal for combat vehicles and even certain civilian applications.
In 2023, CUMI became one of the few fully backward-integrated manufacturers in India of silicon carbide armour products that qualified trials to meet the stringent STANAG 4569 Level 2 and STANAG 4569 Level 3 criteria for armoured vehicles. The STANAG 4569 global framework defines a range of threats–from small arms fire, grenade and mine blast threats, artillery threats, to projectiles. Testing and validation as per STANAG levels certifies how efficient materials used to design the armour are in protecting against these different threats.
Similarly, the company’s personal armour solutions also qualified to meet threat levels in line with NIJ III, III+, and IV global standards. These are crafted from advanced ceramics such as RBSiC, ZTA, and high-purity Alumina, designed to efficiently protect soldiers from automatic guns and armour piercing rifles. In addition, CUMI received the critical EN9100 (AS9100D) certification, a globally adopted quality management system standard for the Aerospace and Defense industry, for its fine powders, composites, and precision machining facilities.
Part of the 120-year Murugappa Group, CUMI’s fully backward integrated operations and cutting-edge innovations in the field of advanced materials such as ceramics have helped India advance steadily towards attaining self-sufficiency in defence.