SOURCE: INDIA TODAY
Among the criticisms levelled against the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is that it has spread itself too thin, focusing on technologies that private players can easily develop instead of its core competence of developing strategic systems and cutting-edge technologies. On August 24, DRDO released a list of 108 systems and subsystems to be designed, developed and manufactured by Indian industry.
These include mini and micro UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), cooled night vision sights, rocket launchers, torpedo tubes and NBC (nuclear, biological and chemical) shelters. It follows the 101 negative import list issued by the defence ministry on August 9, whereby the import of these items will be prohibited after a cut-off date. In an interview with Executive Editor Sandeep Unnithan, DRDO chairman Dr G. Satheesh Reddy outlines the thinking behind the series of far-ranging moves to get his organisation to focus on advanced systems.
1. Can this be called the DRDO’s negative list, in that you will not develop any of these technologies but allow the private sector to do so?
SR: Yes, this is a negative list–it’s a self-imposed negative list for the DRDO. These are the technologies we will support the industry to develop and come up with. We have been working on this list for the last three weeks. This is part of the many reforms that have been brought out. We will be bringing out many more such reforms in the days ahead.
2. The DRDO official release says, “This will allow DRDO to focus on design and development of critical and advanced technology and systems.” Does this mean DRDO will exit from technologies deemed as non-core?
SR: As industry is coming up to a certain capability, we will keep adding more items to this list [of 108 items]. It is a continuous process. That is how [DRDO] will be able to focus on advanced systems.
3. Your release also says, “DRDO will provide support for industries.” What kind of hand-holding will the organisation do?
SR: Wherever the industry has any design deficiency or is stuck, whatever help they want, I will give them, so that their products are up to the mark. I won’t be doing Preliminary Design Report (PDR) and Critical Design Review (CDR) in my labs. I will only help them to come out if testing support is required. I will help them with quality control, end production inspection, acceptance tests in all these things, we will support them. We have to help (Indian industry). Whatever you say, the reality is that our country’s industrial ecosystem is yet to grow up in the way that we want it to. That is why we used the sentence ‘we have to support’ industry.
4. Will the DRDO allow industry to utilise its laboratories and testing facilities etc?
SR: We are actually issuing orders to use all our facilities for industry. Wherever available, industry will use all our facilities. We are looking primarily at opening up our test facilities and some infrastructure.
5. Will more items be added to this list for industry to design, develop and manufacture?
SR: Definitely. We want to add more items to this list in the days ahead.
