The Hindu : `Country aiming at self-reliance in Defence'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 19, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

`Country aiming at self-reliance in Defence'

By Our Staff Correspondent

MYSORE April 18. The Director of the Research Centre Imarat, DRDO, V.K. Saraswat, has said that the country's 10th Plan lays emphasis on the induction of indigenous Defence systems progressively while minimising the import of major systems.

Delivering an address on "Scope and Opportunities for Indian Industry in the Defence Sector" at the inaugural plenary session of Concord organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries, Mysore Zone, here on Thursday, Dr. Saraswat said the country was aiming at self-reliance in Defence systems during the 10th Plan.

He said it was necessary for the country to invest in "critical" technologies, components, devices and equipment to liberate the country from foreign technology and protect it from control regimes.

Dr. Saraswat said the 10th Plan period (2002-2007) envisaged production of the vertical launch "Trishul" and "Akash," a ballistic missile defence system, cruise missiles, precision guided munitions, "Nag" and AGTM variants, a multi-target version of "Akash," long-range missiles, information warfare, and early warning systems.

Similarly, DRDO's products for the 11th Plan (2007-2012) included submarine launched missiles, anti-radiation missiles, civilian aircraft, torpedoes, MBT-II tanks, and long-range multi-role multi-platform cruise missiles.

He said high-power laser missiles, a hypersonic test vehicle, replacement of Sea Eagle, and air-launched precision strike missiles were among the products scheduled for the 12th Plan (2012 to 2017).

During the 13th Plan, the products envisioned were hypersonic missiles, upgraded inter-continental ballistic missiles, and lightweight programme-guided missiles.

Dr. Saraswat underscored the need for greater participation from the country's private sector in the short-time schedules for projects and programmes besides developing systems for the Defence services. However, the country should overcome the challenges on the way to self-reliance in terms of technology, supply of components and devices, production volume and market, government and statutory controls, the short-time cycle from development to production, etc.

Industry would be expected to have a larger vision to participate at system level, establish a technology base which was indigenous or acquired from foreign sources, and set up a quality assurance system.

The CFTRI Director, V. Prakash, delivered a lecture on "The changing scenario of the food processing business in the changed world of business'', while the Director (Technology), Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), T.G. Pai, spoke on the "Making of LCA - making India proud".

The Advisor to the Ministry of Science and Technology, K.V. Srinivasan, spoke.

Concord is a three-day conclave on research and development with an objective to highlight the opportunities for industry in the country's Defence sector. Concord is also aimed at facilitating industry, particularly the small- and medium-scale sector, to have access to the key knowledge base available with research and development institutes.

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