India’s defense sector has achieved a new milestone with the Technology Development Board (TDB) funding the establishment of an Industrial Meta Tattva Facility to fabricate Multi-Spectral Camouflage (MSC) materials and shelters for strategic military applications. The initiative, backed by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), will enable the indigenous development of advanced stealth technologies critical for modern warfare.
The core innovation in this project is the Metamaterial Surface Cloaking System (MSCS), designed to mask tanks, aircraft, and mobile command posts from detection across visual, ultraviolet (UV), and infrared (IR) spectrums. This next-generation camouflage significantly reduces asset visibility to enemy surveillance platforms, offering decisive advantages in battlefield concealment.
Developed using patented technology from IIT Kanpur, the MSCS integrates lightweight, fire-resistant, and water-resistant materials in a sandwiched structural design that enhances tensile and shear strength. The system is tailor-made for Rapid Erect Sun Shelters (RESS), ensuring quick deployment in field conditions. The new facility supported by TDB will exclusively handle its production, reinforcing India’s self-reliance in military innovation.
Recognizing the classified nature of multi-spectral camouflage, the Indian defense sector has traditionally faced challenges in acquiring such technologies from foreign sources. Meta Tattva’s breakthrough addresses this strategic void, delivering an SQR-compliant indigenous alternative validated through successful trials with the Indian Air Force Headquarters, which has approved procurement for operational use.
The company has also entered a Sales & Marketing Agreement with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) to streamline integration into India’s defense supply chain. The collaboration highlights a growing synergy between scientific research, technological development, and operational expertise—key factors in strengthening India’s defense capabilities.
Speaking on the development, TDB Secretary Rajesh Kumar Pathak stated that India’s strategic strength lies not only in its weapons systems but in how effectively it can protect and conceal critical assets. He emphasized the importance of advanced metamaterial camouflage, positioning India at the forefront of next-generation defense innovation.
Meta Tattva Systems founder Air Vice Marshal Praveen Bhatt (Retd.), who has decades of operational flying experience, described the initiative as a game-changer in India’s stealth capabilities, ensuring that the Indian Armed Forces gain superior battlefield protection through fully indigenous technologies.
The presence of senior scientists, civil servants, and defense veterans from the Army, Navy, and Air Force at the funding announcement underscores the project’s national strategic significance. As India continues to invest in cutting-edge military research, the development of homegrown stealth technology reaffirms the country’s commitment to achieving defense self-sufficiency and maintaining technological superiority.
