desiman
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Sep 21, 2009
- Messages
- 3,957
- Reaction score
- 0
Antony faces same questions on DRDO performance 4 years later, update on major DRDO programmes
Shri Mangani Lal Mandal, Member of Parliament from Bihar with the JDU in 2006 had questioned A.K. Antony on DRDO:
(a) Whether it is a fact that Indian Armed forces have to depend on foreign countries even today for getting modern arms and equipments, despite the claims of self-sufficiency in every field in the country
(b) whether it is also a fact that the country has not achieved the desired success in the field of defence research and innovation as per the circumstances and the needs
(c) whether it is also a fact that Indias approach in respect of defence research does not seem to come upto the reality
The Rakha Mantri's answer was "Defence Research in India is regularly reviewed and aligned with the long-term integrated prospective plan of the Armed Forces. In recent past, certain systematic changes have been introduced wherein DRDO would focus on the critical technologies and those of strategic importance."
4 years later, the same minister asked a similar question and the failure to re-structure the DRDO was hidden by another deflective answer that the government is still 'finalising' its report based on the recommendations of Dr. P Rama Rao Committee. The committee had recommended DRDO shed its non-defence laboratories and focus on critical technologies. DRDO is not happy about this, though the report also suggested a great role for DRDO in the procurement process if it restricts itself to critical, hi-tech projects.
Commenting on the topic, DNA had earlier reported that IAF chief had asked DRDO to "Stop making juice". Secondly, it has been the long term complaint of the armed forces that the DRDO functions independently of the plans of the Armed Forces. On the co-ordination between the navy and DRDO, one naval officer said that the Navy has a 15 year acquisition plan but the DRDO is oblivious to it. He should know, he was one of the people who prepared the plan.
The Raksha Mantri went on to detail the major ongoing DRDO projects.
1. Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)
Full scale Engineering Development (FSED) Programme Phase II
Sanction: 20 Nov 2001, Original Proposed Date of Completion (PDC) 31 Dec 2008, Revised PDC 31 Dec 2012.
More than 1330 flight tests have been completed utilising 8 Tejas Aircraft. Maiden flight of the first two seater (trainer) version Prototype Vehicle (PV5) Tejas carried out. Air to ground weapon drop, air to air close combat missile release, sea level trials, cold weather trials, night flying trials and cross-wind take off and landing have been completed successfully.
2. Full Scale Engineering Development (FSED) of Naval Light Combat Aircraft (LCA-Navy)
Sanction: 28 Mar 2003, Original PDC 27 Mar 2010, Revised PDC 27 Dec 2014
Equipping of LCA (NP-1) fuselage is in progress.
3. Interception, Monitoring, Direction and Finding & Analysis System (IMDFAS)-Divyadrishti
Sanction 27 Aug 2002, Original PDC 26 Feb 2008, 26 Aug 2010
Limited integration configuration demonstration has been completed at production agency site successfully and ten stations have been installed at designated sites so far.
4. Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP)
Sanction 26 Jul 1983, Original PDC 30 Jul 1995, Revised PDC 31 Dec 2010.
Projects for development of Prithvi, Agni, Dhanush, Aakash and Trishul missiles have been completed, whereas PDC for only Nag missile has been extended upto Dec 2010. Prithvi, Agni and Dhanush missiles have been inducted into Services whereas, Akash missile system is scheduled to be inducted in 2012 and user trials of Nag missile has been completed. Development of Trishul missile has been completed as Technology Demonstrator.
5. Kaveri Engine for LCA
Sanction 30 Mar 1989, Original PDC 31 Dec 1996, Revised PDC 31 Dec 2010
About 1880 hrs on engine test has been completed on various prototypes of Kaveri Engine. A total of eight Kaveri Engines and four core engines have been manufactured, assembled and tested. High Altitude testing on core engine has been completed successfully.
Funds allocated and utilized by DRDO during the last three years is given below:-
Year 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10
Allocation 6256.81 7737.64 8317.27
Utilisation 98% 99% 98%
DRDO has inducted 523, 625 and 754 scientists during the year 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively. The following steps have been taken to strengthen the organisation:
(i) Consortium approach has been used for design, development and fabrication of critical components.
(ii) Three-tier project monitoring approach is being followed in the major projects/programmes.
(iii) Project Monitoring Review Committee (PMRC); and Project Appraisal and Review Committee (PARC) meetings are held regularly to monitor the progress of the ongoing projects.
(iv) Concurrent engineering approach has been adopted in technology intensive projects to minimize time-lag between development and productionisation of the systems, and Information Technology and modern management techniques have been applied.
(v) Participation of Services in all major programmes right from the beginning of the projects, etc.
(vi) Large number of R&D projects and research initiatives taken up with nearly 100 academic and other scientific establishments.
--
It should be noticed that there is no mention of involvement of private sector highlighting the issues brought about in the recent 8ak report that private sector did not bid on Rustom UAV project and the issue led Defence Industry Daily to question whether this was a step backwards for India.
8ak - Indian Defence News
Shri Mangani Lal Mandal, Member of Parliament from Bihar with the JDU in 2006 had questioned A.K. Antony on DRDO:
(a) Whether it is a fact that Indian Armed forces have to depend on foreign countries even today for getting modern arms and equipments, despite the claims of self-sufficiency in every field in the country
(b) whether it is also a fact that the country has not achieved the desired success in the field of defence research and innovation as per the circumstances and the needs
(c) whether it is also a fact that Indias approach in respect of defence research does not seem to come upto the reality
The Rakha Mantri's answer was "Defence Research in India is regularly reviewed and aligned with the long-term integrated prospective plan of the Armed Forces. In recent past, certain systematic changes have been introduced wherein DRDO would focus on the critical technologies and those of strategic importance."
4 years later, the same minister asked a similar question and the failure to re-structure the DRDO was hidden by another deflective answer that the government is still 'finalising' its report based on the recommendations of Dr. P Rama Rao Committee. The committee had recommended DRDO shed its non-defence laboratories and focus on critical technologies. DRDO is not happy about this, though the report also suggested a great role for DRDO in the procurement process if it restricts itself to critical, hi-tech projects.
Commenting on the topic, DNA had earlier reported that IAF chief had asked DRDO to "Stop making juice". Secondly, it has been the long term complaint of the armed forces that the DRDO functions independently of the plans of the Armed Forces. On the co-ordination between the navy and DRDO, one naval officer said that the Navy has a 15 year acquisition plan but the DRDO is oblivious to it. He should know, he was one of the people who prepared the plan.
The Raksha Mantri went on to detail the major ongoing DRDO projects.
1. Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)
Full scale Engineering Development (FSED) Programme Phase II
Sanction: 20 Nov 2001, Original Proposed Date of Completion (PDC) 31 Dec 2008, Revised PDC 31 Dec 2012.
More than 1330 flight tests have been completed utilising 8 Tejas Aircraft. Maiden flight of the first two seater (trainer) version Prototype Vehicle (PV5) Tejas carried out. Air to ground weapon drop, air to air close combat missile release, sea level trials, cold weather trials, night flying trials and cross-wind take off and landing have been completed successfully.
2. Full Scale Engineering Development (FSED) of Naval Light Combat Aircraft (LCA-Navy)
Sanction: 28 Mar 2003, Original PDC 27 Mar 2010, Revised PDC 27 Dec 2014
Equipping of LCA (NP-1) fuselage is in progress.
3. Interception, Monitoring, Direction and Finding & Analysis System (IMDFAS)-Divyadrishti
Sanction 27 Aug 2002, Original PDC 26 Feb 2008, 26 Aug 2010
Limited integration configuration demonstration has been completed at production agency site successfully and ten stations have been installed at designated sites so far.
4. Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP)
Sanction 26 Jul 1983, Original PDC 30 Jul 1995, Revised PDC 31 Dec 2010.
Projects for development of Prithvi, Agni, Dhanush, Aakash and Trishul missiles have been completed, whereas PDC for only Nag missile has been extended upto Dec 2010. Prithvi, Agni and Dhanush missiles have been inducted into Services whereas, Akash missile system is scheduled to be inducted in 2012 and user trials of Nag missile has been completed. Development of Trishul missile has been completed as Technology Demonstrator.
5. Kaveri Engine for LCA
Sanction 30 Mar 1989, Original PDC 31 Dec 1996, Revised PDC 31 Dec 2010
About 1880 hrs on engine test has been completed on various prototypes of Kaveri Engine. A total of eight Kaveri Engines and four core engines have been manufactured, assembled and tested. High Altitude testing on core engine has been completed successfully.
Funds allocated and utilized by DRDO during the last three years is given below:-
Year 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10
Allocation 6256.81 7737.64 8317.27
Utilisation 98% 99% 98%
DRDO has inducted 523, 625 and 754 scientists during the year 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively. The following steps have been taken to strengthen the organisation:
(i) Consortium approach has been used for design, development and fabrication of critical components.
(ii) Three-tier project monitoring approach is being followed in the major projects/programmes.
(iii) Project Monitoring Review Committee (PMRC); and Project Appraisal and Review Committee (PARC) meetings are held regularly to monitor the progress of the ongoing projects.
(iv) Concurrent engineering approach has been adopted in technology intensive projects to minimize time-lag between development and productionisation of the systems, and Information Technology and modern management techniques have been applied.
(v) Participation of Services in all major programmes right from the beginning of the projects, etc.
(vi) Large number of R&D projects and research initiatives taken up with nearly 100 academic and other scientific establishments.
--
It should be noticed that there is no mention of involvement of private sector highlighting the issues brought about in the recent 8ak report that private sector did not bid on Rustom UAV project and the issue led Defence Industry Daily to question whether this was a step backwards for India.
8ak - Indian Defence News
