Aero India 2025: SMPP to showcase ‘black diamond’ tech, targets exports

SMPP is a supplier of boron carbide ceramic kits and high performance polyethylene (HPPE) panels for aircraft armoring. File
| Photo Credit: Murali Kumar K

SMPP Ltd, an Indian designer and manufacturer of defence equipment and protection kits for land, air and sea platforms said it would showcase proprietary ‘black diamond’ technology at the Aero India show 2025 to be held in Bengaluru from 10-14 February, to increase exports.

Boron carbide (known as black diamond) is one of the hardest and light weight materials and its products are especially suitable for light armor solutions. 

 “We have been exporting our personal protection products since 2008 and have supplied our products to customers across 23 countries in Europe and Asia between April 1, 2021 and June 30, 2024,” Ashish Kansal, CEO, SMPP.

“We intend to evaluate opportunities to expand our presence and supply our products in Latin America, the European Union, the Middle East and the Asia Pacific regions,” he said.

“We will also evaluate entering into joint marketing agreements with other manufacturers to combine our products and sell integrated kits to armed forces,” he added. 

SMPP is planning to raise ₹580 crore of fresh capital to establish a new facility which is anticipated to be the largest private-sector ammunition manufacturing site in India, covering an area of 800 acres in Himachal Pradesh.

SMPP is a supplier of boron carbide ceramic kits and high performance polyethylene (HPPE) panels for aircraft armoring to one of the top two global aircraft manufacturers. 

It provided armor kits for several air platforms for an Indian helicopter manufacturer and international helicopter manufacturers. 

The company’s platform protection kits provide protection for vehicles, patrol boats, aircrafts and helicopters to operate in combat situations including counter insurgency and anti-terror operations.

SMPP adopted a proprietary method of producing boron carbide ceramics with a nominal density of 2.58 g/cc. This enables the company to manufacture single monolithic ceramic plate used in bullet resistant jackets and other products that make them light in weight. 

For air platforms, the company manufactures light weight armor panels for protecting vital areas and critical parts of helicopters and aircrafts. These armor panels provide protection against anti-aircraft guns and hard steel core bullets.

 SMPP is the market leader in India of personal ballistic protection products made of composites, in terms of value of domestic government orders awarded in Fiscal 2024.