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NANOTECHNOLOGY...| 1 IDSA Monograph Series No. 48 October 2015 NANOTECHNOLOGY THE EMERGING FIELD FOR FUTURE MILITARY APPLICATIONS Sanjiv Tomar 2 | SANJIV TOMAR Cover Illustration Courtesy: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XfhWNz2_bpY/ T3dVp2eYz1I/AAAAAAAARDY/Y3TZBL4XaHU/s1600/ 1325267213444.png available at http://fortressaustralia.blogspot.in/ 2012_04_01_archive.html Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, sorted in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photo-copying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA). ISBN: 978-93-82169-58-1 Disclaimer: It is certified that views expressed and suggestions made in this monograph have been made by the author in his personal capacity and do not have any official endorsement. First Published: October 2015 Price: Rs. 200/- Published by: Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses No.1, Development Enclave, Rao Tula Ram Marg, Delhi Cantt., New Delhi - 110 010 Tel. (91-11) 2671-7983 Fax.(91-11) 2615 4191 E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.idsa.in Cover & Layout by: Geeta Kumari Printed at: M/S A. M. Offsetters A-57, Sector-10, Noida-201 301 (U.P.) Mob: 09810888667 E-mail: [email protected] NANOTECHNOLOGY...| 3 Contents Acknowledgements 5 Abbreviations 6 Introduction 9 1. ADVENT OF NANOTECHNOLOGY 13 1.1. A Brief Historical Account 13 1.2 What makes nanoparticle properties so alluring? 16 1.3 Nanomaterials 19 2. NANOTECHNOLOGY R&D INITIATIVES AND THE CURRENT GLOBAL LANDSCAPE 23 2.1 United States 24 2.2 China 25 2.3 Russia 27 2.4 Japan 28 2.5 European Union 29 2.6 India 30 2.7 Pakistan 33 2.8 South Korea 33 2.9 Elsewhere in the World 24 3. NANOTECHNOLOGY IN DEFENCE APPLICATIONS 36 3.1 Nanotechnology Specific Functionalities 36 3.2 Nanotechnology based Applications for Land Vehicles39 3.3 Stealth and Camouflage 47 3.4 Sensor Applications 49 4 | SANJIV TOMAR 3.5 Nano based Communication 53 3.6 Powering of Nanodevices 55 3.7 Nano Bio-technology 56 3.8 Unmanned Air Surveillance and UAVs 57 3.9 NT for Logistics 58 3.10 3D Printing and NT based Manufacturing 59 4. NANOTECHNOLOGY ENABLED MILITARY APPLICATIONS: SOLDIER IN FOCUS 61 4.1 Battle Suit 61 4.2 Biological and Chemical Protection 64 4.3 Health Monitoring and Sensing 64 4.4 Tagging and Tracking 65 4.5 Communication 66 4.6 Nano Power 67 4.7 Smart Helmet 68 4.8 Adaptive Camouflage 69 4.9 Soldier as a System: System of Systems 70 5. FUTURE TRENDS AND IMPACT 73 6. CONCLUSION 77 NANOTECHNOLOGY...| 5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to firstly thank my organization, the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME), for permitting me to pursue the Research Fellowship at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA). I wish to express my gratitude to Group Captain Ajey Lele (Retd.) whose constant guidance and encouragement helped me in preparing this monograph and all other research work I undertook at IDSA. I also owe my thanks to the editorial team, the library staff and the administrative team for making my work easier with their support. My special thanks to Ms Neha Kohli who, despite her own tight schedule, ensured timely editing and publishing of this monograph. I also wish to thank my wife Archana, son Alankrit and daughter Suhaani for their unconditional support and understanding during the period of my fellowship. Last but not the least, I extend my deep gratitude to Dr Arvind Gupta, former Director General, IDSA; Brigadier Rumel Dahiya, SM (Retd.), Deputy Director General, IDSA, and all the fellow scholars for their help and support during my stint with the institution. Sanjiv Tomar September 2015 6 | SANJIV TOMAR ABBREVIATIONS AHSS Advanced High Strength Steel CAS Chinese Academy of Science CDRI Central Drug Research Institute CNT Carbon NanoTube CoE Centre of Excellence CSIR Council of Scientific and Industrial Research DAE Department of Atomic Energy DARPA Defence Advance Research Project Agency DBT Department of Biotechnology DIT Department of Information Technology DoE Department of Energy DRDO Defence Research and Development Organization DST Department of Science and Technology EM Electromagnetic FTP Federal Targeted Program GITA Global Initiative and Technological Alliance ICAR Indian Council of Agricultural Research ICT Information and Communications Technology MR Magnet-Rheological IITR Indian Institute of Toxicology Research IOS International Organization for Standards NANOTECHNOLOGY...| 7 IR Infrared ISN Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies ITCT Indian Institute of Chemical Technology LED Light Emitting Diode MAV Miniature Aerial Vehicle METI Ministry of Economic Trade and Industries MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology MEXT Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports Science and Technology MEMS Microelectromechanical System MNRE Ministry of New and Renewable Energy MNT Molecular Nanotechnology MoEF Ministry of Environment and Forest MoHFW Ministry of Health and Family Welfare MWNT Multi Walled Nanotube NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration NATAG Nano Applications and Technical Advisory Group NBC Nuclear, Biological and Chemical NCNST National Commission on Nanoscience and Technology NDRC National Research Development Corporation NIPER National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research NMCC National Manufacturing Competitive Council 8 | SANJIV TOMAR NNI National Nanotechnology Initiative NSAG Nano Science Advisor Group NSTC National Science and Technology Council NSTI Nanoscience and Technology Initiative NT Nanotechnology OLED Organic Light Emitting Diode OECD Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development QD Quantum Dot RFID Radio Frequency Identification SPASER Surface Plasma Amplification by Simulated Emission of Radiations STBP Science and Technology Basic Plan STF Shear Thickening Fluid STM Scanning Tunnelling Microscope SWNT Single Walled Nanotube UAV Unmanned Aerial Vehicle UCAV Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle WASN Wide Area Sensor Network WHO World Health Organization WNSN Wireless Nanosensor Network 2D Two Dimensional 3D Three Dimensional NANOTECHNOLOGY...| 9 INTRODUCTION “History is replete with examples of militaries that failed due to their inability to transform organizations and culture, adopt new operational concepts, or leverage breakthrough technologies…victory comes to those who foresee, recognize and act on changes in the strategic environment.” General T. Michael Moseley, CSAF 2007 Nanotechnology (NT) is a collective term given to a family of science and technology disciplines which deals with the materials and structures at nanoscale dimensions. Often termed as a ‘technological revolution’, nanotechnologies (NT) are set to bring immense benefits to society at large. In this domain, NT manipulates matter at the atomic, molecular or macromolecular level to create and control objects with the aim of fabricating materials, devices, and systems having novel properties and functionalities because of their small size.1 However, the actual opportunity goes beyond the materials and consists of tiny yet powerful nanosystems that can be made from nanomaterials and nanoscale structures.2 The small nanosystems so developed can be used as arrays which can be embedded in small assemblies and devices to construct bigger systems having advanced features and capabilities which are far more superior to existing ones. Considering the wide range of applications, NT has become a key area of research and development all over the world in the last two decades.3 Governments all over the world, having realized its potential as dual- use enabling technology, started investing heavily in its R&D starting 1 Luisa Filippone and Duncan Sutherland, ‘Nanotechnology: A Brief Introduction’, at www.nanocap.eu/Flex/Site/Download07ab.pdf?10=2256 (accessed on January 17, 2014). 2 Neil Gordon, ‘Interview with Neil Gordon on Military Nanotech’, at www.nanotech- now.com/products/nanonewsnow/issues/o37/037.htm (accessed on April 14, 2015) 3 For comprehensive account of NT research and development and investment by various countries, see Sanjiv Tomar, ‘Current Global Trends and Future Military Applications for Soldier as a System’, Journal of Defence Studies, Vol. 8, No. 4, October- December 2014, pp. 55-82. 10 | SANJIV TOMAR sometime in the beginning of the last decade. Although it is not yet a mature technology, the impact of NT enabled applications is already showing its impact in all walks of life. As per one estimation, over 1600 NT enabled applications encompassing the areas of food production, industrial manufacturing, social and human engineering, healthcare, electronics, power generation and modern warfare, have been put to use.4 While NT is fast evolving, leading to new innovations and product development across various disciplines of science and technology, its profound effect on defence related applications has long been realized by countries all over the world.5 The efforts in R&D in defence by leading countries are focused on increasing the capability of command and control, sustainability, survivability, lethality and mobility.6 In addition to this, NT can directly influence the military applications concerning: stealth, signal processing, power generation, and smart and robust structures.7 Development of novel materials will also increase the life and performance of vehicles, equipment, small arms and guns while at the same time providing enhanced safety to troops. Reduced cost of maintenance,