Introduction
Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) works under Department of Defence Research and Development of Ministry of Defence. DRDO dedicatedly working towards enhancing self-reliance in Defence Systems and undertakes design & development leading to production of world class weapon systems and equipment in accordance with the expressed needs and the qualitative requirements laid down by the three services.
DRDO is working in various areas of military technology which include aeronautics, armaments, combat vehicles, electronics, instrumentation engineering systems, missiles, materials, naval systems, advanced computing, simulation and life sciences. DRDO while striving to meet the Cutting edge weapons technology requirements provides ample spinoff benefits to the society at large thereby contributing to the nation building.
AERONAUTICAL SYSTEMS
Aeronautical systems are the most technology-intensive systems in the Defence portfolio. DRDO has been involved in the development of aero systems, specifically manned and unmanned aircraft, aero engines, lighter-than-air systems, air-borne surveillance and electronic warfare. R&D in such areas is carried out by a cluster of five laboratories namely
Aeronautical Development Agency, Bengaluru, is an autonomous body under Department of Defence R&D. ADA is the nodal agency involved in the design and development of fighter aircraft to reduce the burden of importing fighter planes. The LCA project is funded entirely by DRDO. ADA has also established a number of other major facilities like High Power Computing System Facility, Cockpit Environment Control Facility, Lightning Test Facility, Aircraft System Maintenance Simulator (ASMS), Iron Bird,etc., required for simulation and evaluation of LCA.
Core Competencies
LCA Naval Prototype (NP1) during testing at the Shore Based Ski-jump Test Facility (SBTF)
LCA Tejas is India’s first indigenous multi-role fighter aircraft designed and developed to meet the requirements of Indian Air Force. The crowning achievement was the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC-2) on 20 December 2013 which marked a major milestone in DRDO history. The last of the Limited Series Production (LSP) series LSP 8 had its maiden flight on 31 March 2013. A total of 2450 flight tests have been completed on LCA by December 2013, out of which 2250 flights have been completed in Full Scale Engineering Development (FSED) Phase 2. Envelope expansion and weapon release tests have been successfully carried out. Tejas participated in the Iron Fist-2013 at Pokhran, comprehensively demonstrating swing role capability, i.e., Laser-Guided Bomb (LGB) firing followed by R73E missile firing in the same mission. Three Tejas aircraft participated in ‘Aero India 2013’ with commendable success.
The flagship aircraft program of the Indian Navy has resumed testing of LCA Naval Prototype (NP1) since October 2013. LCA NP2 is under system integration. The Shore Based Ski-jump Test Facility (SBTF) meant for testing of LCA Navy is nearing completion. The first take-off trials of MiG-29K have been carried out and arresting gear system is under equipping at SBTF.
Aeronautical Development Establishment
Aeronautical Development Establishment, Bengaluru, is involved in the design and development of key aeronautical systems such as UAVs, flight simulators, combat aircraft systems,especially the flight control systems and the aircraft simulators. The establishment has developed many systems in the past, e.g., hovercraft, flight simulators and aerial targets.
Core Competencies
Medium Altitude Long Endurance UAV Rustom-II
Rustom-II is being designed to operate at 30,000 ft altitude with an endurance of 24 h carrying Electronic Warfare, Electro-Optic and Synthetic Aperture Radar (EO & SAR) payloads. It can carry a variety of other payloads weighing up to 350 kg. Ground Control Station (GCS) and other sub-systems are also being developed. Rustom-II is a platform designed to perform intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance missions for Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force. Its mission requirements are to provide continuous wide area coverage and yet be able to identify small targets. The first airframe is under system integration. Engine integration has been completed and the ground runs were held in November 2013. Rustom Flight Control Computer (RFCC) software has been coded and landing gear is being integrated.
Advanced Pilotless Target Aircraft, Lakshya-II
Lakshya-II is the advanced version of DRDO’s Pilotless Target Aircraft (PTA). It was designed to dive-down from an altitude of around 800 m to just 12 m and maintain required altitude for the specified time before demonstrating auto climb-out. Features of Lakshya-II are comparable to similar systems of other countries. Services projected a requirement of more than 25 Lakshya-II. M/s L&T Ltd has taken ToT on non-exclusive basis for Lakshya-II. Order worth ₹ 500 Cr to support all three Services for spares, expendables, obsolescence is also being executed.
Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment
Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment, Agra, is engaged in design and development of parachute systems, aerial delivery systems, controlled aerial delivery systems, aircraft arrester barriers, lighter-than-air systems, recovery and floatation systems.
ADRDE has developed multiple products in the field of parachute systems including personnel and ejection seat parachutes, recovery parachutes, armament and ammunition delivery systems, brake parachutes, and heavy drop systems. The Establishment has indigenously designed, developed, installed, and provides technical support for aircraft arrester barrier systems of various capacities at different airbases. The Establishment also provides technical product supports to Armed Forces for their existing services stores and equipment. Life extension studies for various existing products are also undertaken depending upon the needs of the Users.
Core Competencies
Aerostats
Aerostat Akashdeep had been demonstrated at Aero India Show in February 2013. Akashdeep performance evaluation trial to validate the repeatability and flight dynamics of system has been completed at IIT Kanpur in November 2013 along with Electro Optic (EO) payload. The endurance of five days has been achieved in this trial as per the trial objective. All the instrumentation packages performed well and acquired the necessary flight trial data.
Following the successful demonstration of Akashdeep, a new aerostat system, Nakshatra is being built to track a 450 km radius that is approximately four times the present 110 km radius surveillance track of Akashdeep. Development of winch and mooring system has been completed. The power management and health monitoring system sub-assemblies and tether are under realization.
Heavy Drop System
A 16 ton capacity Heavy Drop System (HDS) consisting of a platform and a highly advanced system of parachutes to drop loads consisting of military stores such as vehicles (including BMP class), supplies and ammunition from IL76 heavy lift aircraft has been designed, developed, and demonstrated. The system is an extension of technology developed by DRDO for ‘P-7 HDS’, the seven-ton capacity HDS developed earlier and accepted by Indian Army for induction. The design features aircraft safety during the separation of a large body in a foolproof manner as well as smooth deployment of parachutes and landing of load at pre-designated target point. These systems are re-usable type.
Center for Air Borne Systems (CABS)
The HS-748 AVRO of DRDO's Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), was a test platform for developing a sophisticated indigenous Airborne Early Warning (AEW) system, India's answer to the AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) developed by the US. The Govt decided to scrap the AEW project in 2000 and procure an imported system - Image: Simflight
Center for Air Borne Systems, Bengaluru, is involved in the design and development of airborne surveillance systems to meet the requirements of the Armed Forces. The Centre is proceeding a major programme for the development of Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system. It aims to provide early warning by detecting, identifying, and classifying threats present in the surveillance area and act as a command and control centre to support air defence operations. The system has been realised on modified EMB-145 aircraft.
Core Competencies
Airborne Early Warning and Control Program
The indigenous AEW&C system program encompasses the design and development of a number of systems, viz., long range surveillance electronically scanned array radar for detection and tracking of targets, secondary surveillance radar for Identification of Friend and Foe (IFF), Line-of-Sight (LOS) and Satellite Communication (SATCOM) data links and systems for signal intelligence. These systems developed by various labs of DRDO have been ground tested, flight qualified, and integrated on the AEW&C aircraft which has been modified specifically for the purpose. The mission system was functionally interfaced with the aircraft and all the systems were tested. More than 100 sorties using two aircraft have been completed. The project is on course and system verification and validation trials are progressing satisfactorily.Currently, two aircraft have been received. A notable spin-off of the AEW&C programme is the IFF system.
Gas Turbine Research Establishment
GTRE's Kaveri Engine Sophisticated Test Bed
Gas Turbine Research Establishment, Bengaluru, is involved in the design and development of aero and marine gas turbine engines for Defence applications, besides carrying out research work in the areas of aero engine sub-systems. Its flagship project, i.e., Kaveri engine development has completed about 2200 h on test bed. GTRE has also taken up the development of marine gas turbine engine for ship applications.
Core Competencies
GTX-35-VS Engine
During the year 2013, 122 h of engine testing have been completed on five prototypes, viz., K5, K6, K7, K8 and K9 of Kaveri engine. Notably engine endurance has been established for K7 engine through continuous testing of 50 h in one build. HP compressor was tested at Anecom, Germany. Various tests like aeromechanical mapping, performance mapping, and inlet distortion tolerance tests were carried out. The improved HP Compressor gave 3 per cent improved mass flow rate and increased pressure ratio. 50 h of testing was done at various inlet conditions.
Small Turbo Fan Engine
Under this project, 3-D model of the engine and its components have been created. Detailed CFD analysis has been carried out to establish the targeted engine performance. The engine is expected to provide 410 kgf thrust at 0.75 kg/kgf-hr specific fuel consumption (SFC). Manufacture of the components with indigenous material is under progress.
Development of LRUs and accessories has started. First prototype of the alternator has been realised. The alternator is designed to operate at 53,000 rpm speed and deliver 4kW power. Investment casting of hot-end components of the engine is being carried out by DMRL under a sub-project. High pressure (HP) and low pressure (LP) turbine rotor blades, Nozzle Guide Vanes (NGV), and HP NGV casings were realised with indigenous technology.
Notable Spin-Off
First prototype of compressor blades for gas turbine generator for the Indian Navy has been manufactured. The process is being consolidated.
Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) works under Department of Defence Research and Development of Ministry of Defence. DRDO dedicatedly working towards enhancing self-reliance in Defence Systems and undertakes design & development leading to production of world class weapon systems and equipment in accordance with the expressed needs and the qualitative requirements laid down by the three services.
DRDO is working in various areas of military technology which include aeronautics, armaments, combat vehicles, electronics, instrumentation engineering systems, missiles, materials, naval systems, advanced computing, simulation and life sciences. DRDO while striving to meet the Cutting edge weapons technology requirements provides ample spinoff benefits to the society at large thereby contributing to the nation building.
AERONAUTICAL SYSTEMS
Aeronautical systems are the most technology-intensive systems in the Defence portfolio. DRDO has been involved in the development of aero systems, specifically manned and unmanned aircraft, aero engines, lighter-than-air systems, air-borne surveillance and electronic warfare. R&D in such areas is carried out by a cluster of five laboratories namely
- Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Bengaluru
- Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bengaluru
- Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra
- Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS), Bengaluru
- Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), Bengaluru
- Center for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC), Bengaluru (Addition design validation and certification of Aeronautical Stores)
Aeronautical Development Agency, Bengaluru, is an autonomous body under Department of Defence R&D. ADA is the nodal agency involved in the design and development of fighter aircraft to reduce the burden of importing fighter planes. The LCA project is funded entirely by DRDO. ADA has also established a number of other major facilities like High Power Computing System Facility, Cockpit Environment Control Facility, Lightning Test Facility, Aircraft System Maintenance Simulator (ASMS), Iron Bird,etc., required for simulation and evaluation of LCA.
Core Competencies
- Design and development of fighter aircraft
- System engineering
- Test and evaluation of aircraft systems
LCA Naval Prototype (NP1) during testing at the Shore Based Ski-jump Test Facility (SBTF)
LCA Tejas is India’s first indigenous multi-role fighter aircraft designed and developed to meet the requirements of Indian Air Force. The crowning achievement was the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC-2) on 20 December 2013 which marked a major milestone in DRDO history. The last of the Limited Series Production (LSP) series LSP 8 had its maiden flight on 31 March 2013. A total of 2450 flight tests have been completed on LCA by December 2013, out of which 2250 flights have been completed in Full Scale Engineering Development (FSED) Phase 2. Envelope expansion and weapon release tests have been successfully carried out. Tejas participated in the Iron Fist-2013 at Pokhran, comprehensively demonstrating swing role capability, i.e., Laser-Guided Bomb (LGB) firing followed by R73E missile firing in the same mission. Three Tejas aircraft participated in ‘Aero India 2013’ with commendable success.
The flagship aircraft program of the Indian Navy has resumed testing of LCA Naval Prototype (NP1) since October 2013. LCA NP2 is under system integration. The Shore Based Ski-jump Test Facility (SBTF) meant for testing of LCA Navy is nearing completion. The first take-off trials of MiG-29K have been carried out and arresting gear system is under equipping at SBTF.
Aeronautical Development Establishment
Aeronautical Development Establishment, Bengaluru, is involved in the design and development of key aeronautical systems such as UAVs, flight simulators, combat aircraft systems,especially the flight control systems and the aircraft simulators. The establishment has developed many systems in the past, e.g., hovercraft, flight simulators and aerial targets.
Core Competencies
- Design and development of UAVs
- System design
- Configuration management and evaluation
- Structural design and evaluation
- Avionics design and evaluation
- Telemetry design and evaluation
- Airborne sensor stabilisation
- Payloads design and evaluation
- Aerial image exploitation
- Flight testing and evaluation
- Design and development of fly-by-wire flight control systems, cockpit display
- Pilot training simulators and simulations to support aircraft design
Medium Altitude Long Endurance UAV Rustom-II
Rustom-II is being designed to operate at 30,000 ft altitude with an endurance of 24 h carrying Electronic Warfare, Electro-Optic and Synthetic Aperture Radar (EO & SAR) payloads. It can carry a variety of other payloads weighing up to 350 kg. Ground Control Station (GCS) and other sub-systems are also being developed. Rustom-II is a platform designed to perform intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance missions for Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force. Its mission requirements are to provide continuous wide area coverage and yet be able to identify small targets. The first airframe is under system integration. Engine integration has been completed and the ground runs were held in November 2013. Rustom Flight Control Computer (RFCC) software has been coded and landing gear is being integrated.
Advanced Pilotless Target Aircraft, Lakshya-II
Lakshya-II is the advanced version of DRDO’s Pilotless Target Aircraft (PTA). It was designed to dive-down from an altitude of around 800 m to just 12 m and maintain required altitude for the specified time before demonstrating auto climb-out. Features of Lakshya-II are comparable to similar systems of other countries. Services projected a requirement of more than 25 Lakshya-II. M/s L&T Ltd has taken ToT on non-exclusive basis for Lakshya-II. Order worth ₹ 500 Cr to support all three Services for spares, expendables, obsolescence is also being executed.
Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment
Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment, Agra, is engaged in design and development of parachute systems, aerial delivery systems, controlled aerial delivery systems, aircraft arrester barriers, lighter-than-air systems, recovery and floatation systems.
ADRDE has developed multiple products in the field of parachute systems including personnel and ejection seat parachutes, recovery parachutes, armament and ammunition delivery systems, brake parachutes, and heavy drop systems. The Establishment has indigenously designed, developed, installed, and provides technical support for aircraft arrester barrier systems of various capacities at different airbases. The Establishment also provides technical product supports to Armed Forces for their existing services stores and equipment. Life extension studies for various existing products are also undertaken depending upon the needs of the Users.
Core Competencies
- System design and development of aerodynamic decelerators, parachute aerodynamics and aerospace textiles.
- Design and development of aerial delivery platform, aircraft arrester barrier systems, controlled aerial delivery system, lighter-than-air and floatation systems.
Aerostats
Aerostat Akashdeep had been demonstrated at Aero India Show in February 2013. Akashdeep performance evaluation trial to validate the repeatability and flight dynamics of system has been completed at IIT Kanpur in November 2013 along with Electro Optic (EO) payload. The endurance of five days has been achieved in this trial as per the trial objective. All the instrumentation packages performed well and acquired the necessary flight trial data.
Following the successful demonstration of Akashdeep, a new aerostat system, Nakshatra is being built to track a 450 km radius that is approximately four times the present 110 km radius surveillance track of Akashdeep. Development of winch and mooring system has been completed. The power management and health monitoring system sub-assemblies and tether are under realization.
Heavy Drop System
A 16 ton capacity Heavy Drop System (HDS) consisting of a platform and a highly advanced system of parachutes to drop loads consisting of military stores such as vehicles (including BMP class), supplies and ammunition from IL76 heavy lift aircraft has been designed, developed, and demonstrated. The system is an extension of technology developed by DRDO for ‘P-7 HDS’, the seven-ton capacity HDS developed earlier and accepted by Indian Army for induction. The design features aircraft safety during the separation of a large body in a foolproof manner as well as smooth deployment of parachutes and landing of load at pre-designated target point. These systems are re-usable type.
Center for Air Borne Systems (CABS)
The HS-748 AVRO of DRDO's Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), was a test platform for developing a sophisticated indigenous Airborne Early Warning (AEW) system, India's answer to the AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) developed by the US. The Govt decided to scrap the AEW project in 2000 and procure an imported system - Image: Simflight
Center for Air Borne Systems, Bengaluru, is involved in the design and development of airborne surveillance systems to meet the requirements of the Armed Forces. The Centre is proceeding a major programme for the development of Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system. It aims to provide early warning by detecting, identifying, and classifying threats present in the surveillance area and act as a command and control centre to support air defence operations. The system has been realised on modified EMB-145 aircraft.
Core Competencies
- Design and development of air-borne surveillance systems.
- Development of critical technologies, systems and software for air-borne systems such as: Identification Friend or Foe (IFF), airborne active array antenna, system simulation and analysis, automated test equipment, Mission System Controller (MSC), Intelligent Operator Work Station (OWS) and tactical software.
- System engineering, design, integration testing and evaluation of aircraft-based system of systems.
- Meeting the Flying Test Bed (FTB) requirements of DRDO
Airborne Early Warning and Control Program
The indigenous AEW&C system program encompasses the design and development of a number of systems, viz., long range surveillance electronically scanned array radar for detection and tracking of targets, secondary surveillance radar for Identification of Friend and Foe (IFF), Line-of-Sight (LOS) and Satellite Communication (SATCOM) data links and systems for signal intelligence. These systems developed by various labs of DRDO have been ground tested, flight qualified, and integrated on the AEW&C aircraft which has been modified specifically for the purpose. The mission system was functionally interfaced with the aircraft and all the systems were tested. More than 100 sorties using two aircraft have been completed. The project is on course and system verification and validation trials are progressing satisfactorily.Currently, two aircraft have been received. A notable spin-off of the AEW&C programme is the IFF system.
Gas Turbine Research Establishment
GTRE's Kaveri Engine Sophisticated Test Bed
Gas Turbine Research Establishment, Bengaluru, is involved in the design and development of aero and marine gas turbine engines for Defence applications, besides carrying out research work in the areas of aero engine sub-systems. Its flagship project, i.e., Kaveri engine development has completed about 2200 h on test bed. GTRE has also taken up the development of marine gas turbine engine for ship applications.
Core Competencies
- Conceptual design, performance prediction and simulation gas turbine engines, aerodynamic and mechanical design of turbo machinery, computational fluid dynamics, engine control system design.
- Development of high speed aero-engine gearbox, engine health monitoring system, advanced manufacturing technologies and structural and aerodynamic testing and analysis.
GTX-35-VS Engine
During the year 2013, 122 h of engine testing have been completed on five prototypes, viz., K5, K6, K7, K8 and K9 of Kaveri engine. Notably engine endurance has been established for K7 engine through continuous testing of 50 h in one build. HP compressor was tested at Anecom, Germany. Various tests like aeromechanical mapping, performance mapping, and inlet distortion tolerance tests were carried out. The improved HP Compressor gave 3 per cent improved mass flow rate and increased pressure ratio. 50 h of testing was done at various inlet conditions.
Small Turbo Fan Engine
Under this project, 3-D model of the engine and its components have been created. Detailed CFD analysis has been carried out to establish the targeted engine performance. The engine is expected to provide 410 kgf thrust at 0.75 kg/kgf-hr specific fuel consumption (SFC). Manufacture of the components with indigenous material is under progress.
Development of LRUs and accessories has started. First prototype of the alternator has been realised. The alternator is designed to operate at 53,000 rpm speed and deliver 4kW power. Investment casting of hot-end components of the engine is being carried out by DMRL under a sub-project. High pressure (HP) and low pressure (LP) turbine rotor blades, Nozzle Guide Vanes (NGV), and HP NGV casings were realised with indigenous technology.
Notable Spin-Off
First prototype of compressor blades for gas turbine generator for the Indian Navy has been manufactured. The process is being consolidated.
