The DRDO-BU-CLS was established as a joint venture by DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Government of India, Bharathiar University and the Government of Tamil Nadu at Bharathiar University campus as an autonomous research institute to pursue both basic and applied research. The centre was launched by his excellency Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, the then President of India on June 06, 2005 in the presence of Shri.Surjit Singh Barnala, the Chancellor and Governor of Tamil Nadu and Shri.Ce.V.Shanmugam, Pro-Chancellor and Education Minister, Government of Tamil Nadu.

Shri. A.K.Antony, Hon'ble Minister for Defence, Govt. of India inaugurated the centre on February 02, 2010 in the presence of Dr. V.K.Saraswat, SA to RM, DG DRDO and Secretary Department of Defence Research, Government of India, Dr. W.Selvamurthy, Distinguished Scientist and CCR&D (LS&IC) DRDO, Shri. R.K.Singh, Secretary, Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India and Hon'ble Shri. N.Pongalur Palaniswamy, Minister for Rural Industries and Animal Husbandry, Government of Tamil Nadu and Dr. C.Swaminathan, Hon'ble Vice Chancellor, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore.