U.S. Firm Keen on DRDO’s Explosive Detection Kit, Pact on Anvil

An American firm has shown keen interest in the Explosive Detection Kit (EDK) developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). An agreement on Transfer of Technology is likely to be signed soon between the two sides.

The EDK, developed by the DRDO’s High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) in Pune, comes packed in a box the size of a vanity case which contains four reagents capable of detecting explosives even in trace quantities. It can be used to identify a range of explosives such as PETN, Black Powder, Dynamite, NC, NG, CE, Inorganic Mitrates, TNT, RDX and HMX based plastic explosives. The EDK kit can be easily carried to the spot and is found useful both before and after the blast. When the explosive substance is mixed with the different chemical reagents given in the kit, the drop turns into specific colour as given out in the instruction leaflet. Verification can normally follow using the Raman spectrometric test.

Costing about Rupees 5,000 apiece, the EDK is being commercially made by Noida-based Vantage Integrated Security Solutions Pvt Ltd under a Transfer of Technology pact with the DRDO. It is being widely used by the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squads of the Army, Paramilitary and state Police Forces in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

The American firm is soon to enter into an MoU with the DRDO, which has patented its EDK. “The Americans have their own EDK kits but the foreign technology has certain drawbacks, for example they lack confirmatory test,” said Reny Roy, a scientist at the HEMRL. “Since they use a test paper instead of liquid drops, that’s another disadvantage as the test paper is not long lasting and gets torn,” she added.

Following the success of the EDK, scientists at HEMRL, Pune have now developed an aerosol based EDK kit that costs around the same price as the conventional EDK kit and has the advantage of being more portable, convenient and trendy. Another Use-and-Throw kit with reagents packed in the kind of medicinal injection bottles has also been produced, the cost of which works out around Rs.1,800 for each set. “I got the idea for making an EDK kit in pellets form when I saw my daughter working with her colour palette,” says a blushing Roy.

Comments

The Battle of Longewala

After drifting for approximately thousand kilometers from Alwar, I have reached Longewala. This place romanticizes me allot. The battle of Longewala a legend in itself. It is located at 120 kms from city of Jaisalmer. Only way to reach this place is boulevard and if you are tourist then you have to hire a cab. Longewala is prevalent because of the illustrious skirmish tussled between India and Pakistan in 1971. The clash of Longewala is all about how hundred odd men clogged and overwhelmed approximately 2000 Pakistani legionnaires. This battle was all about the audacity, impetus, chauvinism and drive to prizefight exhibited by those eighty Indian warriors. This scuffle is one of my favorite scuffles, and whenever I come to this place, my mind start envisaging how horde of men repudiated the destiny. During the Indo-Pak war of 1971, A-Coy of 23 Punjab had taken up the defences at Longewala. The A-Coy company commander was Major Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri later on emer...

IS THIS TRUTH OR ANOTHER COMEDY BY PAKISTAN ARMY????

Kashmir War 1947 - 49 By November 1947 Auchinleck, Supreme Commander based in New Delhi, being convinced that Indian Cabinet was seeking to destroy and undo Pakistan by economic and military means, was forced to resign. As the build-up of Indian forces in Jammu and Kashmir continued, Pakistan Army units were being hurriedly organized and equipped without any base for manufacture of ammunition, signal stores, equipment or vehicles. Simultaneously, Pakistan National Guards were raised from ex-servicemen and other volunteers along border areas to provide a second line of defence. By February 1948 Indian build up in Jammu and Kashmir reached five brigades plus, under two full-fledged division Headquarters. Our 101 Brigade, commanded by Brigadier Akbar Khan was rushed into the critical front to forestall and halt the Indian offensive along Uri-Muzaffarabad axis. In April 1948, Commander-in-Chief Pakistan Army appreciating the threats in the north along Muzaffarabad-Kohala...

INDIAN AIR FORCE ADOPTS 'GO GREEN TREND'

Mission Accomplishment Paramount Even as IAF Initiates ODS Alternatives in Weapon Systems The Indian Air Force (IAF) is adopting a multi-pronged strategy to combat ozone depletion including limiting the use of Halon to mission critical uses, tighter control laws and incorporating accountability towards phase-out of ODS (Ozone Depleting Substances) said Air Chief Marshal PV Naik while delivering the inaugural address at the two-day International Workshop on ‘Benefits of ODS Phase-out in Defence Forces’ organized by Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS), today. Air Chief Marshal P.V. NAIK While highlighting initiatives taken by the IAF, and encouraging alternatives, the Air Chief however, clarified, “Mission accomplishment remains paramount for the Armed Forces. Substituting an ODS would only be done, if it doesn’t impinge on operational effectiveness of the system in question.” For new weapon systems in the pipeline, inclusion of a clause in RFPs for provision of alter...

Search This Blog