Nasik, Maharashtra: Indian defence minister AK Antony has inaugurated the Advanced Centre for Energetic Materials (ACEM), a state-of-the-art composite propellant processing facility, at Nasik in Maharashtra. The facility has been created by the country's defence research umbrella organisation, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

The facility has been set up by HEMRL (High Energy Materials Research Laboratory), a Pune-based DRDO laboratory engaged in research and development of high energy materials including solid rocket propellants.

Speaking on the occasion, Antony pointed out that missiles have now become one of the most important, and effective, means of delivering warheads. ''Our strategic capability to boost our defence preparedness is judged by its weapon delivery.''

He stated that despite doing well in many fields, we continue to be on the wrong side of the information divide. ''Nations the world over are today judged by which side of the information divide they are on. I am sure that with the inauguration of this facility, we will take a small but significant step towards bridging this gap. ''

Expressing satisfaction that most of the plant and machinery under embargo had been constructed indigenously. He stressed that to be more meaningful, and to be sustained for a longer term, the indigenization process must be total and irreversible.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr VK Saraswat, scientific advisor to the defence minister, secretary (defence R&D) and DG DRDO, said that this was not the end but the beginning of a longer journey as new and more efficient propellants will keep emerging, for which the facilities will need to be created.

He also said that user expectation was high and assured that DRDO would match expectations.

ACEM has been set up as a dedicated facility, to meet the requirements of composite propellants for solid rocket motors during their development phase as well as the limited series production.

The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and machinery operated remotely through PLC (programmable logic controller) and SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition), thus, avoiding human exposure to hazardous processes.

It incorporates a large number of critical technologies and machinery, designed, developed and realized indigenously with the support of over 40 private firms participating in the endeavour.

Many of these technologies and machinery such as special purpose mixers were inaccessible to India due to ''denial regimes''. The mixers were designed and developed jointly by DRDO and Central Manufacturing Technology Institute, Bangalore.

The new centre is equipped with highly advanced facilities for processing, NDT (non-destructive testing), quality control, as well as static testing of various rocket motors. The installations have been made compliant to the applicable explosive safety norms and are equipped with integrated fire fighting system to ensure adequate safety.

Others present on the occasion included Dr. Subhananda Rao, distinguished scientist & chief controller R&D (aeronautics) & director HEMRL and Avinash Chander, distinguished scientist & chief controller R&D (MSS).