Antony Calls on DRDO to
Involve Industry, Cut Delays
Following is the text of the address
delivered by the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony at
the launch of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
here today:-
I am indeed delighted to be amidst
the Scientists and other members of DRDO family on this
happy occasion of launching of Golden Jubilee activities
of DRDO. My greetings to the whole DRDO fraternity and
best wishes for a great future for all of you and the
organisation for greater accomplishments in the years
to come.
It is gratifying to note that DRDO
has emerged as a strong Science and Technology force
to reckon with, having a strength of about 30,000 knowledge
workers serving in 50 laboratories located along the
length and breadth of our country. An organisation which
had a modest beginning with a mission to advise the
services in Defence Technologies, today has evolved
to ensure the strategic defence as well as provide state-of-the
art Tactical Weapon Systems. No nation will be willing
to part with strategic defence technologies. DRDO has,
therefore, played the crucial role in providing the
strategic defence to our country with suitable delivery
systems.
Tactical systems such as Main Battle
Tank (Arjun), Light Combat Aircraft (Tejas), a family
of Radars, Electronic Warfare systems, sonars, torpedoes,
armaments and Missiles have also been successfully developed
and many of them are being delivered to our armed forces.
The recent success of DRDO in launch of Interceptor
Missile and Agni-III has taken our country to elite
club of a few developed nations with similar capability.
I am glad to know that DRDO has achieved
appreciable level of self reliance in NBC defence technologies
and a large quantity of these products are already delivered
to the defence forces. Life support technologies and
products developed by DRDO have significantly enhanced
the health and operational efficiency of our soldiers
operating in extremes of environmental and operational
conditions. These include high altitudes over the Himalayas,
deserts of Western borders, underwater, aerospace and
Low Intensity Conflict environments. Some of the specialized
materials such as Composites, armour, Titanium, sponge
and AB Steel have now been indigenously developed for
various military applications.
The nation is proud of DRDO and its
significant contributions. I would like to congratulate
and thank the Scientists and staff of DRDO for the 50
years of dedicated service to the nation. The high level
of confidence and the strong determination for greater
contributions are palpable as you enter the Golden Jubilee
year - 2008.
Golden Jubilee is an important milestone
in the history of any organisation such as DRDO. It
provides an opportunity to take stock and show case
the accomplishments as well as to analyse the shortcomings
to find ways to overcome them. A criticism against DRDO
has been that there has been 'Time and Cost Over-run'
in many projects. I fully appreciate that a developing
country like India, which did not even have a car of
its own design till recently, ventured to develop complex
systems such as MBT, LCA, Missiles and EW system. These
efforts are to be seen in an ambience where Industry
support in prototype development or system integration
was meager and support from Academic for seeding new
science and technologies inadequate. I am confident
that DRDO has built the tacit knowledge and capability
for system integration within the country. When they
venture to make next version of the weapon systems/platforms
in future, such delays must be minimized with proper
project management and strong review mechanisms.
I am fully convinced with my analysis
of the defence acquisition, problems with regard to
life cycle support in respect of imported equipment
and other issues related to imported systems, India
must strengthen its indigenous R&D and manufacturing
capabilities. Government of India is fully committed
to enhance the self-reliance index through indigenous
design, development and production. The international
market forces certainly will offer resistance in our
endeavour. DRDO, the Defence Services and the Industries-
both Public and Private - will have to work as a team
with a stake holder spirit towards the goal and face
the challenge in global competition and make our Defence
Industries vibrant and contribute to increased acquisitions
from within India.
Private sector Industries should strengthen
their R&D capability and quality assurance in manufacturing,
thereby contributing in this mission of self-reliance.
Innovation is the key for development. DRDO as well
as our industries should promote innovation at the national
level.
I am glad to know that Shri Natarajan,
Scientific Advisor is making serious effort to bring
corporate culture in DRDO both at Head Quarters and
in the laboratories. His initiative to develop a detailed
business plan for each laboratory, as well as perspective
plan for Science and Technology Road map for the next
15 years, in important disciplines, is a welcome step
to face the emerging challenges.
DRDO may also look at potentials of
offset policy to leverage new technologies during acquisition
process. Joint Ventures in R&D with other countries
may increase in the global economy.
Our Government is committed to providing
ample incentives to make scientific profession more
attractive and improve the quality of life of our scientists
in their work place and living ambience. I am hopeful
of positive outcome, which will ameliorate the problem
of attrition of scientists from DRDO. The media support
to DRDO will also serve as yet another source of motivation.
I am happy to know that DRDO has established a formal
mechanism within the organization to share information
with the media.
Science and Technology is the key
for development and hence our Government is fully committed
to promote Science & Technology in a big way during
Eleventh Plan. DRDO will also be strengthened as part
of this plan.
On this happy occasion, I once again
congratulate all the members of DRDO fraternity on their
significant contributions to the mission of nation-building
through R&D endeavours. I am delighted to flag off
the year long events of "DRDO Golden Jubilee year
2008" and offer my felicitations.
Source:
Press Information Bureau Date: January 09, 2008
