Summary: Carborundum Universal Limited (CUMI), a materials science firm, has won a global certification, NATO's STANAG 4569 Level 4, for its ceramic “powder-to-panel” armour for vehicles, one of the most stringent benchmarks for armoured-vehicle protection. CUMI says it backs the Defence Ministry's modernisation of the Indian Army and Central Armed Police Forces, cuts import dependence and shortens deployment timelines. It is among very few Bharatiya firms certified at Levels 3 and 4 for improvised explosive device (IED) side-blast protection, and its panels were tested at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)'s Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory and at IABG in Germany, the company said, reports Defence.Capital.
Why it matters: Armour that protects Bharatiya soldiers and paramilitary jawans, qualified at home to a NATO standard, is what defence self-reliance looks like beyond slogans. Each such certification takes the country's armoured fleets a step further from imported protection.
“CUMI Achieves STANAG 4569 Level 4 Armour Qualification” — Defence.Capital, 11 Nov 2026
Chennai: Carborundum Universal Limited (CUMI), a materials science and engineering company from the 125-year-old Murugappa Group, has achieved STANAG 4569 Level 4 qualification for its end-to-end “powder-to-panel” armour solution for vehicles, marking a significant milestone in India’s indigenous defence manufacturing industry. STANAG 4569 is one of the most stringent global benchmarks for the protection of armoured vehicles.
CUMI’s Level 4 qualification covers its advanced ceramic-based armour solution, designed to protect against high-velocity projectiles and fragmentation while optimising weight for mobility and platform integration…
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