- Stealth, Strategy & Self-Reliance: A Deep Dive on India’s Camouflage Prowess
- Made-in-India, Mission-Ready: On Scaling Indigenous Multi-Spectral Camouflage
By Sangeeta Saxena
Excel Centre, London. 18 September 2025. In a world where the visual battlefield is as critical as firepower, stealth and concealment have become essential. At the forefront of India’s signature management solutions is Meera Alreja, Director at Entremonde Polycoaters Ltd. With more than three decades of dedicated experience, she has led the company’s evolution from a traditional textile enterprise into a pioneer of multi-spectral camouflage technology for India’s defence and paramilitary forces.
India’s military camouflage industry is gaining strategic importance in light of the nation’s growing focus on self-reliance, advanced warfighting capabilities, and homeland security. With diverse operational terrains—from the snowy Himalayas and desert expanses of Rajasthan to dense jungles and urban battle zones—the Indian defence forces require a wide array of high-performance camouflage solutions tailored for different environments and threats. Multi-spectral camouflage, capable of defeating detection across visible, infrared, and radar spectra, has become a key priority for the armed forces. Indigenous manufacturers are rising to the challenge, producing advanced camouflage nets, mobile concealment systems, ghillie suits, and wearable gear that meet stringent military standards.
Beyond the military, there is an increasing demand from paramilitary forces such as the CRPF, BSF, and Assam Rifles—especially in counterinsurgency and border operations—where concealment enhances both survivability and operational surprise. Additionally, special police units and state-level SWAT teams involved in anti-terror and urban combat roles are also beginning to seek customised camouflage solutions for tactical advantage. As India positions itself as a global security player, the need for a robust, scalable, and technologically advanced camouflage industry is imperative—not only to meet domestic defence and security requirements but also to become an export hub for smart concealment solutions in a multi-domain operational environment. In this exclusive interview with Aviation & Defence Universe (ADU), Meera Alreja takes us through the company’s vision, technological strengths, indigenous capabilities, and global expansion plans — and why India is ready to compete with the best in camouflage tech.
ADU. You’ve been in the business for over three decades. Can you briefly introduce your company’s journey and focus.
Meera Alreja. I’ve been with Entremonde Polycoaters Ltd. for over 35 years, and the organisation itself is more than 50 years old. We’ve always served the Indian defence sector, but in recent years, our core focus has shifted to signature management products, particularly multi-spectral camouflage. We have two primary product lines. One for protecting equipment and the other for personnel, both offering concealment against radar, thermal cameras, infrared (IR), and other detection technologies.
ADU. You mentioned your company is the only Indian qualified manufacturer for Multi-Spectral Net (MSN) camouflage. Could you elaborate on that?
Meera Alreja. Yes, we are proud to be the only Indian company whose MSN camouflage product is fully qualified through both field and laboratory trials. In the first tender for these products, there were six participating companies—three international and three Indian. Out of these, four were disqualified during the lab trials. Only two companies, including ours, qualified in both lab and field trials, and we emerged as the L1 bidder.
ADU. That’s impressive. What makes your manufacturing capabilities stand out?
Meera Alreja. We have complete in-house manufacturing capabilities—from ink formulation and printing to coating and fabrication. We even produce our own printing inks, which allows us full control over quality and consistency. This vertical integration ensures that we maintain stringent standards across the entire production process.
ADU. You also mentioned a dedicated testing facility?
Meera Alreja. Absolutely. We have invested over ₹5 crore in setting up a comprehensive in-house testing facility in Nashik. It’s the only private setup in India that can measure radar, thermal, and infrared reflectance for multispectral camouflage. Besides the Defence Laboratory Jodhpur (DLJ), no other private player in India has such a capability.
ADU. So every product undergoes in-house testing before dispatch?
Meera Alreja. Yes, nothing leaves our factory without being rigorously tested in-house. We are extremely quality conscious. R&D and quality assurance are part of our DNA. We don’t compromise.
ADU. What about the tank camouflage system we see here?
Meera Alreja. That’s our Mobile Camouflage System, specially designed for tanks on the move. It provides full-spectrum protection against detection even when the vehicle is mobile. It’s part of our advanced camouflage portfolio aimed at enhancing battlefield survivability.
ADU. Your snow camouflage has always stood out—what are you showcasing this time.
Meera Alreja. Yes, that white camouflage you saw earlier is snow camouflage—not naval. It has certainly made a mark. This time, we’re showcasing a full range of multi-spectral camouflage solutions, including live demonstrations comparing visual outputs of protected vs. unprotected targets through thermal and other sensors. We’re primarily catering to the Indian Army and Air Force.
ADU. Where are your operations based?
Meera Alreja. We’re based out of Nasik, Maharashtra. Our entire manufacturing and R&D ecosystem is indigenous, from raw materials to final production. We’re also proud to be the only Indian qualified manufacturer for multi-spectral camouflage (MSN) products for defence use.
ADU. Are you also supplying paramilitary forces?
Meera Alreja. Yes. We’ve supplied suits to Assam Rifles and ground sheets to several paramilitary organisations. Our product portfolio is growing in this segment too.
ADU. What about exports? Are you participating in international shows?
Meera Alreja. We participate in major international shows—not all, but selectively. Our major export markets currently include UAE and Saudi Arabia, and we’re at the sampling stage with a few European countries. As you rightly said, tender systems worldwide—not just in India—can be time-consuming.
ADU. Is your entire supply chain India-based?
Meera Alreja. Absolutely. The entire technology is indigenously developed. I’ve personally led the development effort. We manufacture inks, coatings, and fabrication in-house, including our own testing facilities—an investment of over ₹5 crore. Apart from DRDO’s DLJ, we’re the only private company in India with such a complete setup for radar, thermal, and IR measurement.
ADU. Are you considering opening a facility abroad given your export potential?
Meera Alreja. If consistent volumes are assured, yes. We have huge installed capacity in India, so setting up abroad would only make sense with guaranteed demand. For now, we have representatives in UAE and Saudi Arabia promoting our products.
ADU. Any final thoughts?
Meera Alreja. Our aspiration is to be a market leader in camouflage solutions, much like Saab Barracuda globally. We offer competitive pricing, superior quality, and full compliance with military standards. With our current capabilities, we are ready to scale, both domestically and globally.
ADU. And who leads the company?
Meera Alreja. The company is owned by the Khetan family. Mr. Chandrakant Khetan is our Chairman and MD. The head office is in Mumbai, while the factory and technical operations are based in Nasik. Mr. Khetan’s progressive mindset and willingness to invest in R&D has been vital to our growth.
Military camouflage is a vital element of modern warfare, designed to reduce visibility and conceal personnel, equipment, and installations from enemy detection. In a battlespace where surveillance technologies such as thermal imaging, radar, infrared sensors, and drones are increasingly sophisticated, effective camouflage ensures operational secrecy, enhances survivability, and provides a strategic edge. Multi-spectral camouflage systems, which counter threats across visual, thermal, and radar spectrums, allow troops and assets to blend seamlessly into diverse environments — from snow-covered terrain to deserts and urban settings. By disrupting enemy targeting capabilities and delaying identification, camouflage not only saves lives but also preserves the element of surprise, a key principle in military strategy. As warfare becomes more multi-domain and technology-driven, the development and deployment of advanced camouflage solutions are crucial for ensuring force protection and mission success.
With unwavering focus on indigenous iCamouflage Prowessnnovation, strategic self-reliance, and battlefield survivability, Meera Alreja’s leadership at Entremonde Polycoaters Ltd. is a case study in how Indian industry can lead in cutting-edge defence technologies. From thermal and radar concealment to mobile camouflage systems, and from DRDO-aligned testing infrastructure to export-ready capability, her team exemplifies the Make-in-India spirit with world-class execution. As Entremonde gears up to scale globally, it’s clear that the future of military camouflage may be painted in Indian colours.
As told to Sangeeta Saxena
