DEFENCE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION

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Recently, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has celebrated the 64th Foundation Day on 1st January, 2022.

Important points:

• DRDO is the R&D (Research and Development) wing of the Ministry of Defence with a vision to empower India with cutting-edge defence technologies.
• Its pursuit of self-reliance and successful indigenous development and production of strategic systems and platforms such as Agni and Prithvi series of missiles, Light Combat Aircraft, Tejas multi-barrel rocket launcher, Pinaka, air defence system, Akash, a wide range of radars and electronic warfare systems, etc. have given quantum jump to India’s military might, generating effective deterrence and providing crucial leverage.
• It was formed in 1958 from the amalgamation of the Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) of the Indian Army and the Directorate of Technical Development & Production (DTDP) with the Defence Science Organisation (DSO).
• DRDO is a network of more than 50 laboratories which are deeply engaged in developing defence technologies covering various disciplines, like aeronautics, armaments, electronics, combat vehicles, engineering systems etc.

Various Programmes of DRDO:

• Integrated Guided-Missile Development Programme (IGMDP):
• It was one of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s major works to make Indian defence forces self-sufficient in the field of missile technology.
• The missiles developed under IGMDP are: Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Akash, Nag.
• MARS is a smart robust robot to handle land mines and Inert Explosive Devices (IEDs) which helps the Indian Armed Forces to disarm them from far distances despite hostile surroundings.
• With some add-ons, this system can even be used to dig the ground for the object and defuse the Improvised Explosive Device by various methods.

Way Forward

• DRDO should be restructured in a leaner organisation as suggested by the committee chaired by P. Rama Rao for external review of the agency in February 2007.
• The committee recommended setting up a commercial arm of the organisation to make it a profitable entity, besides cutting back on delays in completing projects.
• DRDO former chief V.K. Saraswat has called for the setting up of a Defence Technology Commission as well as a bigger role for DRDO in picking production partners for products developed by the agency.
• DRDO should be able to select a capable partner company from the outset, from the private sector if necessary.

SOURCE: THE HINDU,THE ECONOMIC TIMES,MINT