Developments at DRDO

Successful tests of weapon systems

Twenty eight successful tests have been carried out by DRDO in the last one year. The major weapons and other systems that have been handed over to the armed forces by DRDO are: Astra Beyond Visual Range Missile System, 10 m Short Span Bridging System, Indian Maritime Situational Awareness System (IMSAS), Heavy Weight Torpedo ( HWT) Varunastra, Border Surveillance System ( BOSS) and Arjun Mk-1A. The development cum Production Partner (DcPP) policy for DRDO developed systems ensures involvement of industries from the beginning of development cycle, thus enabling industries and facilitating hand-holding throughout the development phase.

Maiden trial of Python-5 air to air missile

Tejas, India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft, added the 5th generation Python-5 Air-to-Air Missile (AAM) in its air-to-air weapons capability on 27 April 2021. Trials were also aimed to validate enhanced capability of already integrated Derby Beyond Visual Range ( BVR) AAM on Tejas. The test firing at Goa completed a series of missile trials to validate its performance under extremely challenging scenarios. Derby missile achieved direct hit on a high-speed maneuvering aerial target and the Python missiles also achieved 100% hits, thereby validating their complete capability. The trials met all their planned objectives.

The missiles were fired from the LCA Tejas of Aeronautical Development Agency ( ADA) flown by the Indian Air Force (IAF) Test pilots belonging to National Flight Test Centre (NFTC). The successful conduct was made possible with years of hard work by the team of scientists, engineers and technicians from ADA and HAL-ARDC along with admirable support from CEMILAC, DG-AQA, IAF PMT, NPO (LCA Navy) and INS HANSA.

New projects by DRDO

During the past 3 years, 79 projects amounting to Rs. 8201 Crores directly pertaining to development of new defence equipments i. e. cruise missile, anti- ship missile, surface- to- air missile, air- to- air missile, extended range antisubmarine rocket, mounted gun system, ammunitions, electronic warfare system, radars, torpedoes, high endurance autonomous underwater vehicle etc. have been undertaken.

Many DRDO developed technologies such as Battle Field Surveillance Rader (BFSR), Joint Venture Protective Carbine (JVPC) Jammers, 5.56 mm rifle, 40 mm Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBRL), Oleo Resin (OR) Grenade etc are being utilised by the State Police.

Upgrades to some of the systems have been developed by DRDO such as the Arjun Mk-1A, Akash-NG, Light Combat Aircraft Mk-1A, Medium Power Radar-Extended Range, PINAKA- Extended Range/Guided, Electronics & Communication System, unified mission computer for SU- 30 MKI aircraft, internal EW System for MIG-29UPG and EW systems for naval platforms.

DRDO lab develops light weight Bullet Proof Jacket

Defence Research and Development Organisation ( DRDO) lab Defence Materials and Stores Research and Development Establishment (DMSRDE), Kanpur has developed light weight Bullet Proof Jacket ( BPJ) weighing 9.0 kilogrammes, meeting the qualitative requirements of Indian Army. The Front Hard Armour Panel (FHAP) jacket was tested at Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Chandigarh and met relevant BIS standards. The importance of this vital development lies in the fact that each gram of BPJ weight reduction is crucial in enhancing soldier comfort while ensuring the survivability. This technology reduces the weight of the medium sized BPJ from 10.4 to 9.0 kilogrammes. Very specific materials and processing technologies have been developed in the laboratories for the purpose.

Advanced Chaff Technology for naval ships

DRDO has developed an Advanced Chaff Technology to safeguard the naval ships against enemy missile attack. Defence Laboratory Jodhpur ( DLJ), a DRDO laboratory, has indigenously developed three variants of this critical technology namely Short Range Chaff Rocket (SRCR), Medium Range Chaff Rocket (MRCR) and Long Range Chaff Rocket (LRCR) meeting Indian Navy’s qualitative requirements. The successful development of Advanced Chaff Technology by DLJ is another step towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Critical Near Isothermal Forging Technology for aeroengines

The organisation has established the near isothermal forging technology to produce all the five stages of high-pressure compressors ( HPC) discs out of difficult- to- deform titanium alloy using its unique 2000 MT isothermal forge press. To meet the bulk production requirements, DMRL technology was transferred to MIDHANI through a licensing agreement for technology transfer (LAToT). Using the isothermal forge press facility available at DMRL, Hyderabad, bulk quantity (total of 200) of HPC disc forgings pertaining to various compressor stages have been jointly (DMRL & MIDHANI) produced and successfully supplied to HAL for fitment in to Adour Engine that powers the Jaguar/Hawk aircraft.

Single Crystal Blades for helicopter engine application

Defence Research and Development Organisation has developed single crystal blades technology and supplied 60 of these blades to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) as part of their indigenous helicopter development programme for helicopter engine application. It is part of a programme taken up by Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory ( DMRL), a laboratory of DRDO, to develop five sets (300 total) of single crystal high pressure turbine (HPT) blades using a nickel-based super alloy. The supply of remaining four sets will be completed in due course.