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Synthesis and Reactivity in Inorganic, Metal-Organic,

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Present and Futuristic Military Applications of

Nanodevices
a a a
D. K. Kharat , H. Muthurajan & B. Praveenkumar
a
PZT Centre , Armament Research and Development Establishment , Pune, India
Published online: 19 Aug 2006.

To cite this article: D. K. Kharat , H. Muthurajan & B. Praveenkumar (2006) Present and Futuristic Military Applications of
Nanodevices, Synthesis and Reactivity in Inorganic, Metal-Organic, and Nano-Metal Chemistry, 36:2, 231-235

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 Synthesis and Reactivity in Inorganic, Metal-Organic and Nano-Metal Chemistry, 36:231–235, 2006
Copyright # 2006 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
ISSN: 0094-5714 print/1532-2440 online
DOI: 10.1080/15533170500524801

Present and Futuristic Military Applications of Nanodevices

D. K. Kharat, H. Muthurajan, and B. Praveenkumar
PZT Centre, Armament Research and Development Establishment, Pune, India

Nanotechnology involves the manipulation of matters at the

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Nanotechnology has potential applications for defence, level of individual atoms and molecules which promises
especially in the field of sensors, transducers, nanorobotics, nano- towards the uprising of many aspects of human society. The
electronics, memory storage, propellants, & explosives to enhance implementation of nanotechnology is likely to bring a drastic
the performance of devices and weapon systems. The research and
development activities of nanotechnology are increasing globally reduction in the energy consumption and dramatically advance
at a rapid rate. Many programs have been launched by individual medicines abilities to cure and prevent diseases, and also to
countries or jointly towards the realization of nanotechnology. add significant increases in the precision and effectiveness of
At present, no major country is left without addressing this military devices and weapons.
area. Provisions of special financial budgets are being made for The origin of nanotechnology goes back to a famous talk
its development. Technology based on nanomaterials is going to
play a vital role for the effective development of various materials delivered by Richard Feynman, who first conceived the idea
and devices that are likely to play major dominating roles in of molecular manufacturing.[2] Nanotechnology is concerned
military applications as well as societal changes. This paper with materials, systems structures and components that
focuses on the various aspects involved in nanotechnology devel- exhibit novel and significantly improved physical, chemical
opment and its probable applications for the military. and biological properties, phenomena and processes due to
their nanoscale size. One of the primary aims in the nanotech-
Keywords nanotechnology, military applications, smart weapons, nology research is to exploit these properties by gaining control
nanodevices of structures and devices at atomic, molecular and super
molecular levels and also to learn the efficient manufacturing
of devices by maintaining the stability of interfaces, and the
integration of these nanostructures at the micron-length scale.
INTRODUCTION Nanostructures and devices have unique chemical, electri-
Nanotechnology is a generic term given to the production or cal, magnetic, optical and biological properties. Nanotechnol-
use of very small, or nanoparticles, which are less than a ogy embeds nanoscience insight to fabricate new materials,
hundred nanometers, or about one-thousandth of the width of structures or devices exploiting nanoscale properties. The
a human hair. A nanometer is a one billionth of a meter. The major advantages offered by the nanotechnology are: higher
word “nano” in nanotechnology comes from the Greek word surface-to-volume ratio, low percolation threshold, increased
that means dwarf. Nanotechnology thrives on modern hardness with decrease in grain size, narrower band gap with
advances in chemistry, physics, biology, engineering, decreasing grain size, higher resistively with decreasing grain
medical and materials research and is likely to contribute in size, increased wear resistance, lower melting and sintering
cross-disciplinary areas of the science and technology work- temperature and improved transport kinetics.[3] At present the
force for the 21st century.[1] Nanotechnology basically ultrafine powders and coatings are used in a variety of
involves the manipulation of objects on the very atomic products including sunscreens and self-cleaning glasses. The
level. Using nanotechnology, products can be built up with other forms of nanotechnology being developed include tiny
every atom in the right place so that, allowing materials to be sensors called nano-units, of which some simple types are avail-
lighter, stronger, smarter, cheaper, cleaner and more precise. able, the smart materials that can change the response with the
effect of light or heat. Nanobots are the tiny mobile robots and
are yet to be developed but are theoretically possible.
Received 30 April 2005; accepted 13 July 2005.
The authors are thankful to Shri A. S. Rajagopal, Director, ARDE, NANOTECHNOLOGY FOR DEFENCE
Pune, for permission to present this paper.
Address correspondence to D. K. Kharat, PZT Centre, Armament Militaries of many countries are aiming towards weapons
Research and Development Establishment, Pune 411 021, India. based on nanotechnology. Weapons can be used in three
E-mail: dkkharat@rediffmail.com different ways: (1) To massively damage the lungs. Ultrafine
231
 232 D. K. KHARAT ET AL.

particles from diesel machines, power plants and incinerators has been strongly backed by the Department of Science
can cause considerable damage to human lungs. This is Technology (DST), University Grand Commission (UGC),
because of their size (as they can get deep into the lungs) Defence Research and Development Organizations (DRDO)
and also their ability to carry other chemicals including and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
metals and hydrocarbons along with them; (2) To get into the either individually or jointly with academic institutes
body through the skin, lungs and digestive system. This helps and industry. The broad uses of nanotechnology for defence
to create free radicals that can damage the cells. There is also applications are given below and shown in Figure 1.
a serious concern that, once the nanoparticles are in the blood-
stream, they are able to cross the blood – brain barrier; (3) The ARMAMENT SYSTEMS
human body has developed a tolerance to most naturally occur- One of the main motivations for working at the nanoscale
ring elements and molecules with which it has contact. comes from evaluation of microelectronics towards miniaturi-
However, it has no natural immunity to new nanosubstances zations. This is contained in the famous empirical Moore’s law,
and therefore is more likely to find them toxic; and; (4) The which states that, the number of transistors per chip doubles for
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most dangerous nano-application used for military purposes every 18 months. The implication of nanotechnology in
is the nano-bomb, which contains engineered self-multiplying armament electronics where miniature circuit building, actua-
deadly viruses that can continue to wipe out a community, tation, and detonation systems are involved. Nano-electronic
country or even entire civilization. Militaries all around the components are now manufactured by hybridization of
world are about to embark upon the use of nanomaterials, silicon components, where single logic circuits are made out
nanobots and nanotechnologies that are likely to make of self-assembled single molecule transistors. Nanowires
weapons of mass destruction. Armies of enormous strengths capable of conducting electricity and various new forms of
can be wiped out slowly without even fighting a single battle. memories and storage devices have become feasible. One of
Because of this, the soldiers may never know when they the novel examples is in carbon nanotubes. Their special
have been nanopoisoned. features are being almost 50,000 times thinner compared to
The research and development trends in the area of nano- human hair, as strong as diamond, and the ability to hold 100
technology are enormous. The activity has been catalyzed times the current of metal wires. The reduction in size of the
since the U.S. Federal Government allocated funds of $USD systems from computers to wireless phones is a continuing
500 million under the National Nanotechnology Initiative trend for electronic defence systems. The significance of this
(NNI) program.[4] Since then, there is a steep rise in budget miniaturization goes well beyond just smaller size and
provisions with current spending in the order of USD reduced weight. Batch fabrication and combination of com-
750– 850 million per year.[5] Other major countries including ponents and subsystems into fewer and fewer chips has been
the UK, Russia, France, Germany, Japan, China, and Korea a key driver in the miniaturization of microelectronics,
are also working rigorously toward the development of nano- enabling reduced cost, increased reliability, and robustness
technologies and nanodevices. In India, the R&D program through the parallel manufacturing of many integrated com-
ponents, and increased functionality in ever-smaller packages.

NANOROBOTS
A robot typically requires sensors for pressure, position,
vision, temperature and movement, and a computer to
process signals and to decide the action controls. Very small
(10 – 100 s of grams) but scientifically capable robotic
vehicles for space exploration are under development, which
can easily fit within the mass and/or volume constraints of
future missions to asteroids, comets, and Mars. Nanorobots
are used in the maintenance of aircrafts and hulls of ships.[6]

SENSORS AND TRANSDUCERS

Nanotechnology is changing the way sensors are designed,
powered, deployed and utilized in the military systems.
Sensors plays critical roles in the functioning of tiny electronic
circuits to large and complex systems. For instance, electronic
and optoelectronic circuits need voltage, current, temperature,
light, and other sensors to operate whereas jumbo jets need
FIG. 1. Nanotechnology applications in defense. mechanical sensors and actuators to function.
 MILITARY APPLICATIONS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY 233

At present, there is a need to improve critical elements in the light, novel integration, full spectrum protection, novel
embedded piezoelectric sensors, specifically the adhesive materials and signature management. A combat suit has
bonding between the piezoelectric active sensor and the struc- armor chassis that provides load carriage, enhanced agility
tural substrate, which is the weak link in the sensor system and standoff for thermal management, leading ballistic plate,
because it deteriorates under environmental attacks. By fabri- moisture wicking undershirt with durable sleeves, combat leg
cating nanosensors directly onto the structure, it is possible panels and integrated knee pads.
to create a seamless atomic bond to the structure and that is
impervious to environmental attacks. In addition, the nano- MICROELECTROMECHANICAL SYSTEMS
fabricated piezoelectric materials will have a well-ordered Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) consist of tiny
crystalline structure with quasi-angle domain orientation that elements manufactured using lithographic techniques to
gives the properties of the single crystal. achieve micro dimensions. The features of MEMS are: they
Sensing gas molecules are critical to environmental contain mechanical elements that are built on a small scale
monitoring, control of chemical processes, space missions, and can be appreciated only with a microscope; MEMS
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and agricultural and medical applications. Carbon nanotubes elements interface with non-electronic signals and often
have been realized as chemical sensors capable of detecting merge signal processing with sensing and/or actuation; they
small concentrations of toxic gas molecules such as NO2, improve the performance, safety and reliability of weapon
NH3, etc. The advantage of carbon nanotube-based chemical systems without compromising their shape or weight; The
sensors over conventional gas sensors are: mild reaction con- small size of MEMS makes the inclusion of redundant
ditions (room temperature), fast response, higher sensitivity systems feasible, as well as the implementation of fault-
and high adsorption surface area. Nanotube-based gas tolerant architectures that are modular, rugged, programmable,
sensors are used for detecting bio-chemical weapons, land conventionally interfaced, and relatively insensitive to shock,
mines, air pollution and even organic molecules in space. vibration and temperature variations; MEMS could also
make sophisticated new functions in weapons feasible, such
SPACE ELEVATORS as systems that understand and communicate their condition,
The overriding factor in the design of aircraft or spacecraft enabling the early detection of incipient failure and detection
is the weight-to-power ratio. Lighter and smaller crafts are gen- of tampering; and, MEMS sensors are used in fighting aircrafts
erally cheaper in making air or spaceborne vehicles. Carbon for detecting flow-instability, avoiding stalls and monitoring
nanotubes (CNT) are tiny molecular tubes made up of hexago- structural integrity, as well as controlling engines and
nal carbon rings joined together. Dimensions of these tube emissions.[7]
range from 1 nm to 10 s of nm depending upon their structure,
i.e., single wall or multiwall. These tubes have wonderful NANOSTRUCTURAL PLATFORMS
electrical behavior that can be tailored simply by changing The structural platform includes satellites and other space-
orientation or angle of bending. Carbon nanotube-based crafts, land vehicles, water vehicles, missile systems and
materials can reduce structural mass, miniaturize electronics, other weaponry. These need to be lightweight; exceptionally
and reduce power consumption because of atomic precise strong, tough and durable; tolerant of extreme high tempera-
materials and components. Thermal protection of spacecraft tures; and suitable for extraordinary environments such as
is crucial for atmospheric re-entry and for other tasks involving high altitudes, space, saltwater, desert, arctic and other
high temperatures. Carbon nanotubes, like graphite, withstand extreme climates. Nanoscale control of the grain structure of
high temperatures and have a Young’s modulus of at least one lightweight aluminum and aluminum alloys are especially
terapascal, which is beneficial for withstanding aeronautical used for aerospace structures. In addition, improvements in
strains, including the strain of atmospheric re-entry vehicles. mechanical properties and the allowed operating temperatures
of titanium and titanium alloys are being pursued using
INTELLIGENT APPAREL SYSTEMS nanoscience approaches. Researchers are working on
The intelligent apparel systems include nanosize built-in methods to increase thermal stability of nanophase metals
heating and cooling systems, inflammable systems and and alloys so that they can retain their superior mechanical
wearable nano-electronics/photonics. New heat storage and properties at elevated temperatures. The mechanical strength
thermo-regulated fabrics are developed using microencapsu- of nanosize, superstrong fibers such as carbon nanotubes,
lated spun composite fibers. These materials offer good boron nitride nanofibers, coupled with the lower density of
dynamic thermal resistance, increased toughness by absorbing these materials, offers great potential for much lighter compo-
energy during their highly flexible elastic behavior, plus multi- site structures that are stronger and tougher than conventional
functionality such as increased electrical conduction, and materials. This is a key advantage sought in the aerospace
increased tailorability options for advanced composite world for spacecraft, aircraft and military systems. Nanotech-
matrices. Integrated combat suit and headgear are planned nology is also employed in multiple dimensions in searching
with advanced nanotechnology systems, which include ultra for ways to improve surface coatings. Hard, durable surfaces
 234 D. K. KHARAT ET AL.

with suitable aerodynamic features are essential to all aircraft, particles and smaller grains, which subsequently leads to the
spacecraft, and other vehicles. It has been suggested by faster release of overall energy.[14]
numerous studies that the design of super hard, wear-resistant
composite coatings is feasible using nanocrystalline constitu- FUTURE OF NANOTECHNOLOGY
ents having mechanical properties associated with the fine- One of the key factors is the efficient manufacturing of
grained structure such as resistance to classical dislocation nanodevices based on an intellectual drive to exploit new
formation and slip. Coatings that can withstand extreme temp- phenomena and processes leading towards the development
eratures, abrasion, and wear are especially important for of defence platforms. Another main reason is the promise
advanced aircraft and space vehicle platforms.[8] of broad social implications that will include the product
requirements of $USD 1 trillion per day by the year 2015,
AERODYNAMICS AND PROPULSION where nanotechnology plays a key role in requiring 2 million
Nanotechnology offers the possibility of dramatically workers.[15] Thus in the future, the development of
improving the performance in the aerodynamics of flight nanotechnology is likely to be multifold in the following areas.
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vehicles in two principal ways: through direction modification

of aerodynamics by microdevices and through materials Microsensors
changes that can achieve more fluid mechanics behavior. The It is predicted that, nanotechnologies are likely to offer signifi-
recent research field is the active control of fluid mechanics, cant advances and advantages in defense capabilities, providing
which uses high frequency, dynamic control of aerodynamic new opportunities for defense and new external threats. There
surfaces to alter the mean aerodynamic behavior. Subscale is likely to be considerable prospect towards the development
experiments have demonstrated that such active control can of pervasive sensors and devices. The main initial defense
be used to alter the turbulent nature of the flow, perhaps impact is predicted to be in information systems, data processing
leading to laminar flow vehicles with dramatically increased and its commercialization using large numbers of new and cheap
range and payload compared with existing aircraft. sensors. These developments will enable pervasive nanosensors
to contribute to the national defense capability through early
EXPLOSIVES AND PROPELLANTS detection of chemical or biological releases and increased sur-
Materials that can store large amounts of chemical energy, veillance capabilities. In addition, the entire army requires
and are characterized by a high rate of energy release are whole ranges of clothing, armor, weapons, and personal
termed “energetic materials.” The energetic materials are communications, which may likely be possible through low
being used in explosives, propellants and pyrotechnics. Nano- cost, but powerful, sensing and processing by optimizing their
technology allows researchers to bridge the gap between pure characterization, operation and performance to meet the
chemical evaluation, microstructural analysis, and better changing conditions automatically. The nanotechnology used
understanding of the phenomena that perform the energetic to create microsized sensors could be attached to unmanned
functions. The loading density of the explosives in warheads aerial vehicles to gather environmental information in a theater
or shells is one of the important parameters that influences of combat, which will have a great relevance.
the performance properties of explosives such as velocity of
detonation, temperature of explosion, C-J pressure, etc.[6] Nanocomputers
The nanosized particles of explosives and propellant ingredi- Nanocomputers working with 16 KB memory will be 10
ents enhance the loading density, which increases the microns by 10 microns or about 30 to 100 times the density
velocity of detonation and other performance properties of planned by the computer industry for their memories. For
explosives and propellants. Enhanced performance warheads mini-scale robots, it is anticipated that using nanotechnology,
using nanotechnology offers sufficient lethality into a small a mini-robot the size of a housefly is likely to be developed,
package, so that these small missiles may be effective against which will be driven by a nanocomputer.
relatively soft targets such as radar sites and armored
vehicles.[8] Typical preparation of energetic materials Smart Uniforms for Soldiers
involves physical mixing of solid fuel and oxidizer powders. Nanotechnology research has been aimed at enhancing the
Nanosized oxidizer and fuel materials offer the potential properties of the clothing and other materials through molecu-
(high surface area) for rapid energy release.[9] An increased lar-level design. The smart uniform applied with nanoscaled
research effort toward the use of nano-aluminum in explosives sensors and coatings with uniquely customized properties
and propellants is one of the typical examples in this will be able to heal wounded soldiers. It will be possible to
area.[10 – 13] In a recent study it was found that the addition of know where the individual soldier is and what is wrong with
aluminum nanoparticles can enhance the burning rate of him. The suit will be able to activate remotely to perform the
propellants by 5 – 10 times over conventional aluminum desired mission. In emergency if a soldier has a wound but is
particles. The basic logic in the process is that the rate of unconscious, it may be possible to send the signal to the
energy release is directly related to the transport of oxidizer arms of the suit to close down and make a tourniquet.
 MILITARY APPLICATIONS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY 235

The concept of soldier as a system and even a system of CONCLUSIONS

systems is likely to be implemented in the future.[16] Nanotechnology is highly promising for military as well
as civil applications. Because of its multidisciplinary nature,
Daisy Cutters it has received tremendous attention in recent years. It is
It is likely that research efforts are being addressed towards likely to play a vital role in the fields of military, environment,
how to manipulate the flow of energy within and between the space, microelectronic, chemical and medical applications.
molecules. The area is known as “nano-energetics,” which The impact of nanotechnology on military applications is
enables building more lethal weapons such as “cave-buster becoming increasingly prominent; however, a good number
bombs,” which will have several times the detonation force of issues are required to be addressed. The role of nanotech-
of conventional bombs such as daisy bomb or the MOAB nology in structural materials, microelectromechanical
(mother of all bombs). systems, intelligent apparel systems, nanorobots, space eleva-
tors, aerodynamics and propulsion applications is going to be
Superthermits dominanting in the future.
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The power of weapon can be greatly increased by adding

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