WASHINGTON, Aug 3: In a first of its kind of reverse technology sharing between India and the US, an innovative Explosive Detection Kit developed by Indian scientists would be manufactured in America and sold globally for quick detection and identification of combinations of explosives.
The India-developed US-manufactured Explosive Detection Kit (EDK) was launched at the US Chamber of Commerce building in Washington – a block away from the White House yesterday.
This was probably for the first time that technology developed by Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) was being manufactured and marketed in the US, officials and industry partners said.
“We are hoping that (technology transfer) would be a two way street,” former US Defence Secretary William S Cohen said, adding that this is a very significant step. He described it as a very “excellent example” of reverse technology transfer.
Being commercialised as part of a programme called DRDO- FICCI Accelerated Technology Assessment and Commercialisation (ATAC), the two sides have entered into a Licensing Agreement with a US based-firm Crowe and Company of South Carolina for manufacturing the Kit.
Developed by a constituent DRDO laboratory, High Energy Material Research Laboratory in Pune, the EDK is developed for quick detection and identification of explosives based on any combination of nitro-esters, nitramines, trinitrotoluene, dynamite or black powder.
The test results can be obtained in two-three minutes in field conditions as well as in laboratory conditions at ambient temperature. One of the salient features of the Kit is its ability to detect combinations of explosives in IEDs.
Plastic explosives based on RDX fail to be detected by most electronic detectors, but EDK being a chemical-based kit can efficiently detect plastic explosives.
The Kit is portable, cost effective and can be used in both pre-blast and post-blast scenarios even in contaminated conditions. It is being used by bomb detection and disposal squads of the Army, paramilitary forces and police in India.
“It marks an important milestone in the process of evolution of the India-US Strategic Partnership,” Indian Ambassador to the US Nirupama Rao said, adding that this reflects the next frontier in co-operation, which would involve technology, innovation in the field of defence.
The event reflects the fact that the Indian defence research institutions have emerged world class, nation building technologies and solution providers for many global problems, she added.
Describing this as a first DRDO product which is getting globalised, Avinash Chander, its Director General, said DRDO has identified 50 similar non-sensitive technologies for their global commercialisation in partnership with FICCI.
Terming it as an important milestone, he said this signifies a maturing of relationship between the two countries.
“EDK story demonstrates that the technology transfer between India and the US can (be) two way particularly with the innovative low cost products in both civil and defence segment finding many more opportunities, many more applications,” Chander said.
“This is a small step, but without doubt a very significant step for both the countries. I am sure in the coming years we would have many more success stories sharing together,” he said.
“It is a partnership between government, private sector companies and an industry association,” said Didar Singh, FICCI Secretary General.
“I believe that industry associations such as ours can’t merely be lobby groups. We have to actually get into development,” he said.
Fay Crowe, president of Crowe and Company, which has established its manufacturing base in South Carolina said that the US Army, the Department of Homeland Security and other American law enforcement agencies are in the evaluation process.
“This kit has a much better field deployable position than other items. We have just signed an agreement with a US company to take the technology to South America. The technology would be presented to the Columbian Defense Ministry and to Panama and across the world,” Crowe said.
It is India which holds the patent on the technology, and Crowe has paid an unspecified amount to commercialise it in the US and would also pay royalty on the EDK kits sold.
“Yes”, she said when asked if Boston bombings could have been prevented if the technology was available in the US at that time.
“I believe that it could have been deployed in Boston and with proper training if the kits were in use…At large events, it would every easy to implement a posture where you can detect explosives,” she said.
Reny M Roy, the Indian scientist who developed this technology, said that the EDK kits have been successfully used in preventing several terrorists’ attacks and even immediately detecting the type of explosive used in the event of a bomb blast.
The German Bakery blast is one of such instances, she pointed out.
“It is an analytical tool which can avert disaster. This little box can work as a pre-blast analytical tool and as a post-blast investigative tool,” Roy said, adding that they have now also developed a pocket size use and dispose explosive detection kit. (PTI)
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