The base HEM could be petrol, liquid gas, nuclear fuel or their improvised forms. In the defence sector, the HEM are used in ammunition, rockets and missiles. The objective of the cooperation between the DRDO and the HCU is to discover new materials that can provide greater thrusts of energy. The research will also focus on the possibility of reducing use of the quantities of the existing materials while improving upon their propelling power.
The DRDO has agreed to fund the five-year project to be taken up at a cost of Rs 35 crore under which its scientists will work with the faculty and the HCU students to explore new sources of energy. For this purpose the HCU has decided to set up the Centre for Research in High Energy Materials at its campus. Though it would take ab-out a year for the new centre to start its operation, the work is expected to begin within six months, the VC said.
A DRDO scientist based in Pune Dr Subhananda Rao said that the project would also work to develop theories for new models, combustion, de-tonators and quantum mechanics. There are fertile brains out there in the universities and other institutions. They should be encouraged to select areas for their research which are beneficial to the society as well as the defence requir-ements of the country. The DRDO has begun to identify and work with such institutions to supplement and enr-ich the work going on at the DRDO laboratories and esta-blishments. The memorandum of collaboration is first such formal understanding,” M Natarajan, Advisor to the Minister of Defence, said.
