DRDO OUTLINES INVESTMENT PLANS

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has earmarked 25-30 per cent of its ~180-billion Budget allocation for new projects, including developing an unmanned aerial vehicle for border surveillance. It has lined up several projects in various verticals for future development, including missiles, said S Christopher, chairman of DRDO.

C P Ramanarayanan, directorgeneral (aeronautical systems), said the organisation is planning to complete the payload trials by this year end.

The department has received 270 patents in the last three years.

DRDO, along with two private agencies as production partners, has designed and developed an advanced Towed Artillery Gun System.

On exports, he said the organisation has exported naval system worth $37.9 million. DRDO is in talks to export some of the missiles. It is planning to develop an anti-tank missile, which can be launched from both helicopter and from the ground.

components and spares in India through transfer of technology, partnerships and JVs with the Russian OEMs.

At the second conference in August 2017, as many as 39 Indian companies and 32 Russian ones were engaged in discussion, apart from the Indian and Russian authorities. The armed forces in India and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd undertook an exercise, to identify Indian industry partners which could manufacture the specific spares and components. The list was shared with the Russian counterparts and further discussion has been held by industry representatives from both sides.

The new deals would pave way for transfer of technology for some identified spares and there would be concerted effort for more such initiatives, it was stated.