Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment
| Established | March 1976 |
|---|---|
| Director | S. Sundaresh |
| Address | Avadi, Chennai-600 054 |
| Location | Chennai |
Operating agency | DRDO |
| Website | CVRDE Home Page |
Defence Research and Development Organisation Laboratories | |
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| Aeronautical Systems | |
| Armament & Combat Engineering Systems | |
| Electronics and Communication Systems | |
| Life Sciences | |
| Micro Electronic Devices, Computational Systems & Cyber Systems | |
| Missiles and Strategic Systems | |
| Naval Systems and Materials | |
| Human Resources | |
| System Analysis & Modelling | |
| Corporate Directorates |
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| Research Boards |
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| DRDO Young Scientist Laboratories |
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| Other Related Body/Institute | |
The Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) is a laboratory of the Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO). Located in Avadi, near Chennai, it is the main DRDO lab involved in the development of Armored Fighting Vehicles and Tanks.
History
After the Independence of India, the Chief Inspectorate of Mechanical Transport Establishment (MTE), which was previously located in Chaklala, Pakistan, was moved to Ahmednagar. It was later renamed as Vehicle Research & Development Establishment (VRDE), Ahmednagar.
In 1965, the Heavy Vehicles Factory was set up at Avadi to manufacture Vijayanta Tanks. a detachment of VRDE was established there, to provide support. In March 1976, the VRDE detachment at Avadi was re-designated as Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE); as an independent DRDO laboratory responsible for Research & Development of Armoured Fighting Vehicles.[1]
Areas of Work
CVRDE has been tasked with the design, development and testing of tracked combat vehicles and specialized tracked vehicles. It has also designed certain aircraft subsystems, mainly related to the engine and hydraulics. Like many DRDO labs, it also develops civilian technologies based on spin-offs of the defence related products developed by it.
Projects and Products
CVRDE is the main research lab responsible for the development of the Arjun MBT, which will undergo user trials in November 2007. It has also developed the Tank-EX, Bhim Self Propelled Artillery, based on the Arjun Chassis, and the Combat Improved Ajeya, an upgrade of the Indian Army's T-72 Tanks.
Apart from these, CVRDE has also developed other combat and Engineering Vehicles, like Armored Cars, Bridge-layer Tanks, Armored Recovery Vehicles and a Mortar Carrier based on the BMP-2 chassis