The Ahmedabad Textile Industry's Research Association (ATIRA) has been assigned the project on protective technical textiles by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
The project calls for thorough research and development (R&D) on non-woven and technical textiles extensively utilized in defence and combat.
ATIRA will undertake research work on protective technical textiles like bullet proof vests and jackets, Defence uniforms, and even aircraft arresters.
Aircraft arrester is basically a system installed on each end of the runway to slow down the pace of aircraft during emergency. This mechanism is nothing but a net made of nylon tapes called Multi Element Net Assembly which also falls under the category of protective technical textiles.
Experts believe that the project is likely to get completed by the end of 2008 and although technical textiles has still not taken firm grounds in the Indian textile industry, there is an emerging demand for such materials through out the country.
In addition to protective textiles, the sector of technical textile also includes agro, geo, medical and auto textiles.
Even in the past ATIRA has taken a good amount of efforts to spread awareness about this sector in the textile industry.