Shrinking budget worries DRDO head........ HYDERABAD: In its first major step towards export of indigenous defence products and systems developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), India will be showcasing more than a dozen of its products before more than 30 countries at the International Aerospace and Defence Exhibition ADEX-2013 at Seoul, South Korea, from October 29 to November 3. And a significant chunk of these products are from the Hyderabad-based labs of DRDO including Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Defence Research and Development Laboratory and other facilities at the Missile Complex. Amongst the defence systems and products up for export are Pragati (surface-to-surface tactical missile system) developed by RCI and DRDL, babies like Akash (surface-to-air missile system) and Astra (beyond visual range air-to-air missile). Impressive list includes Abhyas, a high-speed expendable aerial target designed for autonomous flying with the help of an autopilot, Airborne Early Warning and Control system, IFF Interrogator (Identification Friend or Foe System), weapon locating radar and other surveillance and battlefield radars. D DRDOs Explosive Detection Kit has already been grabbed by a US-based company. Disclosing this at the Missile Complex in Kanchanbagh, scientific advisor to raksha mantri and director general DRDO, Avinash Chander expressed concern over the shrinking budget for DRDO. It has come down to 5.5% from the previous 6. 2%, and given the current dynamics regarding depreciation of rupee against dollar, the percentage is actually even lesser. With the current policy of indigenous production, discouraging import of technology and products, the government must increase the allocation for R&D as it would fetch huge returns tomorrow, said Chander, adding that the budget allocation for DRDO should go up to 9% of the total allocated sum for the defence sector. He further said that world over, the time taken from R&D to defence capabilities is about 15 years and another 20-25 years are taken for economic returns. So far, India is the biggest importer of defence systems but the trend can be reversed completely if more budget is allocated to R&D in addition to industrial participation for the same, he said, adding that the Indian industry, especially Andhra Pradesh which has contributed immensely to major projects like Agni V, would reap huge benefits by taking a leap into defence production. The scientific advisor to defence minister maintained that investment in R&D would be a game changer in indigenous defence production bringing down the costs phenomenallyTOI
Posted on: Sun, 20 Oct 2013 08:00:25 +0000
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