India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 05 Oct 2023 01:40

Bala To be honest Tejas had more enemies in services than babus.
Very easy to blame the faceless babus when it's the service gold braid that sabotages.
And the retired ones are worse.
Three legged cheetah was remark by a retiree.

bala · Post by **bala** » 07 Oct 2023 01:16

Yes, Ramana, the IAF had major opposition, but things are turned 180 degree nowadays, they are forced to raise more squadrons of Tejas, including trainers. Take a look at this recent YT from AVM Sinha and the litany of complaints he has. He also acknowledges that the Indian Navy has a much better smooth relationship with DRDO compared to the IAF and I might add IA too. Navy has their own design bureau which the others are lacking. Project mgmt, silos, leadership are all being blamed. IAF wants representation in all facets, including DGQA which I am opposed to since QA must be independent of the users/manufacturers. No point in complaining forever, someone has to act to correct things and this where the Babu needs to step up, break up the fisticuffs, allow for better communication and relationships, look at the big picture and big steps that are required for advancement. If babus cannot then pujya mantriji needs to act. India cannot afford internal bickering especially in the defence sector. One nation, one defence and act against our enemies in unison.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 07 Oct 2023 07:26

ramana wrote: ↑05 Oct 2023 01:40 Bala To be honest Tejas had more enemies in services than babus.
Very easy to blame the faceless babus when it's the service gold braid that sabotages.
And the retired ones are worse.
Three legged cheetah was remark by a retiree.

I run into that 'cheetah' gentleman frequently in seminars.

I agree with ramana. The 'services' have to take their blame too, which is significant. As neutral observers, we have seen how it has all played out and we cannot be taken for a ride by such 'holier than thou' statements.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 07 Oct 2023 08:39

IAF got everything from RAF and did not forget anything, especially the bad habits.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 13 Oct 2023 20:18

https://x.com/Varun55484761/status/1712 ... 33851?s=20 ---> DRDO Smart Bombs, Winged Gaurav and non winged Gautam.

bala · Post by **bala** » 15 Oct 2023 09:39

Two HTFE-25 engines by HAL under developmental trial. Engine to power 5 ton aircraft.

The development of HTFE 25 Turbofan Engine is equally important as that of 110 KN or more thrust class Engine which will power the future fighter jets of India. This engine is 25 kN class turbofan engine designed to power aircrafts with lower thrust requirements such as Basic/ Advanced military trainers, on small business jets, stealth UAVs & wingman.

The single engine can power a 5-ton weight class aircraft and in twin-engine configuration it can power 9-ton weight class aircraft.

While this engine is not as cutting-edge technology as Kaveri engine, but it is at par with Adour, F124 and AI-225 engines. Once successful this engine can save lot of foreign exchange spent in the export or licence manufacture of engines of this class.

The engine can also be used to power the indigenous IJT HJT-36 or AJT Hawk 132 and the reheat version of the HTFE-25 variant can power the IAF Jaguars at a fraction of the cost that Honeywell is asking for its engine upgrade.

HAL's HTFE-25 features a lot of 3D printed components made using alloy of Titanium, Aluminium and Vanadium in ratio of 1:6: 4 (Ti-6Al-4V). This alloy is also called α–β titanium alloy that exhibits high strength, low density, and good corrosion resistance. It is one of the most commonly used titanium alloys.

The engine has thrust to weight ratio of 5.56 and maximum flight altitude of 11km.

The Full engine (Technology Demonstrator) has been built for HTFE and the first run of this TD is completed successfully. HAL has also completed the acceleration trials in which upto 55% of the speed was achieved.

Two core engines have been produced so far and are undergoing development trials. Sea level trials completed on the Core engine and performance was found to be satisfactory. Cold weather trials and Hot weather high altitude trials are also complete at Leh.

The further development of flight worthy engine for certification would require at least another 5 years or more. As per latest update HAL is planning to get the certification for this engine by 2029-30, which is quite late and this need to be expediated considering the wide area of application of this engine.

HAL has also planned the after burner variant of this engine which would be capable of generating thrust upto 40 kN, however this would again depends on the success of 25 kN core engine.

Credit: Indian Defense Analysis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrzlW6lJTy0

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 19 Nov 2023 23:18

https://x.com/ANI/status/1726112159250477278?s=20 ---> DRDO’s Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur has developed a Radar Absorbing Paint (RAP) for being applied on its own fighter aircraft and other platforms to help in reducing its radar signature and also reduce the detection capability of the enemy radars. The development team led by Dr Nagarajan told ANI they have used the paint on Indian Air Force’s platforms including the MiG-29 fighter jets and the results have been very encouraging. They said such paints are available in other advanced countries but they do not share such items.

Prem Kumar · Post by **Prem Kumar** » 24 Nov 2023 07:44

https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/other/in ... skbar&ei=5

DAC meeting on Nov 30 to give AoN to 3 mega deals:

1) 97 follow-up Tejas Mk1a
2) 156 Prachand
3) 3rd aircraft carrier

Total worth Rs 1.4 Lakh crores

Hope everything goes smooth. The next steps after AoN are tendering & contract negotiation. Since most players are known, Tejas is a repeat order and its mostly going to be manufactured by DPSU, these purchases are fast-tracked.

If the Govt/MoD puts its mind to it, they can form 3 parallel tracks to accelerate the contracting process and finish it in a month. Place orders by end of 2023. One can wish, can't we?

ernest · Post by **ernest** » 24 Nov 2023 20:51

Wow, there wasn't even an AON for the Prachand order yet? Yet media has been reporting it for 8 years like it was a done deal. No wonder why people feel that defence projects in India are delayed, when in absence of concrete steps we have media reports implying ordered products.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 28 Nov 2023 22:20

https://x.com/writetake/status/1729493059157770429?s=20 ---> 𝗗𝗿 𝗚𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗗𝗲𝗼𝗱𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲, 𝗗𝗚, 𝗔𝗗𝗔, 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 33 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗥𝗗𝗢/𝗔𝗗𝗔. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁, 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗶𝗿𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗷𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵.

𝘏𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘔𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘵𝘳𝘢, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 1963-𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘫𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘙𝘋𝘖 𝘭𝘢𝘣 𝘊𝘈𝘐𝘙 𝘪𝘯 1990.

𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥-𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘊𝘈 𝘊𝘓𝘈𝘞 (𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭 𝘭𝘢𝘸𝘴) 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘶𝘱 𝘣𝘺 #𝘎𝘶𝘳𝘶𝘒𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘮 𝘪𝘯 1992.

𝘋𝘪𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘉.𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩 (1984) 𝘪𝘯 𝘌𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘌𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔.𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩 (1986) 𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘐𝘐𝘛 𝘉𝘰𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘺. 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘴 𝘢 𝘗𝘩𝘋 (1990) 𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘰𝘰, 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘥𝘢.

𝘑𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘈𝘋𝘈 𝘪𝘯 2007 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘍𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭 𝘚𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘴 (𝘐𝘍𝘊𝘚) 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 2012 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 𝘋𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳.

𝘐𝘯 2017, 𝘋𝘳 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮 𝘋𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 (𝘗𝘎𝘋) 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘋𝘈 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 2021 𝘋𝘎 𝘈𝘋𝘈.

𝘋𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘛𝘦𝘫𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘍𝘖𝘊, 𝘓𝘊𝘈-𝘕𝘢𝘷𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘓𝘊𝘈-𝘔𝘬2, 𝘈𝘔𝘊𝘈 & 𝘛𝘌𝘋𝘉𝘍 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘦.

𝘏𝘦 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘲𝘶𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘎𝘶𝘳𝘶 𝘒𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘮 & 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘈𝘋𝘈 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱 𝘮𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥.

𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.

𝘈𝘋𝘈 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘢 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘋𝘎.

Prem Kumar · Post by **Prem Kumar** » 30 Nov 2023 17:45

Its only AoN, but a BIG DAY for Atmanirbhar today

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1981135

1) 156 Prachand
2) 97 Tejas Mk1A
3) Su-30 MKI upgrade
4) Area Denial Munition (ADM) Type-2 & 3 (no idea what this is?)
5) Towed Gun System. Presumably, this is the new version that will replace ATAGS. No numbers are mentioned
6) Automatic Target Tracker & Digital Ballistic Computer for T-90s
7) MRAShM (Medium Range Anti Ship Missile) for the Indian Navy. Is it NASM-MR?
8 ) DAP 2020 - all procurements to have minimum 50% Indian content, excepting annual maintenance

Prem Kumar · Post by **Prem Kumar** » 01 Dec 2023 14:34

Some more details have emerged:

1) The Su-30 MKI upgrade is for 84 birds (Uttam, EW, Astra & other desi munitions, possibly IRST, RWR/SPJ etc)
2) The ADM-2/3 are Pinaka ammunition. I think its like Adrushya type anti-tank mines that are air-dispersed from Pinaka rockets, rendering an entire area unusable for tanks
3) The Towed Gun System is for 400 units. This might be ATAGS-2, lighter in weight. This will come in addition to the 307 ATAGS-1, which is in the tendering process
4) The MRAShM is for 450 missiles, which looks healthy for our fleet. Still don't know if its NASM-MR

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 21 Dec 2023 20:36

https://x.com/TheLegateIN/status/173774 ... 54267?s=20 ---> Full list of labs, facilities and institutions of DRDO.

https://x.com/TheLegateIN/status/173775 ... 19532?s=20 ---> India's DRDO now has more than 6,700 scientists and over 9,000 technical support staff.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 25 Dec 2023 21:09

https://twitter.com/alpha_defense/statu ... y_YzA&s=19

Key Takeaways from Parliamentary Committee On Defence : 20th December 2023 Report on DRDO

The committee suggested to
develop not only each system, subsystems and components, but also infrastructures and testing facilities at their respective laboratories. Government should provide all facilities required for our scientists in their research and development initiatives.

The Committee are of the view that in view that DRDO may also branch out its research wing to focus on environment pollution so that the health hazards created by such eventualities can be curbed.

The Committee are of the view that in view that DRDO may also make a JV or Joint Collaboration with foreign partners for design and develop state-of-the-art future-centric weapon system, later can be passed to Indian Industries.

Out of 55 Mission Mode projects, 23 were not completed within the stipulated time, earlier some projects were delayed due to change in the General Staff Qualitative
Requirements (GSQRs) by the user or due to technological obsolescence.

Should inductyoung scientists at yearly age.

No cuts should be made in the funding.

Creation of Consortium of industries for faster completion of Projects.

Must look into all the pragmatic
angles of developing “Interceptive Drone” and Sea Drone capability.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 25 Dec 2023 21:20

Is there a link to the Parliament report

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 03 Jan 2024 19:05

https://x.com/writetake/status/1742458910936858973?s=20 ---> Three key takeaways from DRDO's Chairman Dr Samir V Kamat's NY address to his team. I am happy to see a silent, no-nonsense man at the helm of affairs, unlike a few self-publicity-crazy folks who held the post in the past. Good signs, hopefully.

* Everyone has to focus on achieving higher user satisfaction and incorporating Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning in all our systems and technologies.

* Each laboratory should appoint an AI/ML champion to proactively pursue inclusion of these in all systems and technologies.

* Ensure that the systems under user trials and under final stages of developmental trials, must get accepted by in 2024.

VinodTK · Post by **VinodTK** » 17 Jan 2024 23:58

Mega Rejig At DRDO
The committee, led by former Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, Professor K Vijay Raghavan, has proposed several structural modifications for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22kAZpZcjHE

Prem Kumar · Post by **Prem Kumar** » 18 Jan 2024 11:43

I hope this committee findings are dropped into the nearest wastepaper basket, where it belongs

This is the "Empire Strikes Back" moment, where the Chandigarh Lobby wants to castrate DRDO by removing them from decision-making loop, while promoting screwdriver-giri as Atmanirbhar

If Rajnath Singh & Modi fall for this crap, shame on them!

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 26 Jan 2024 09:15

PM Modi doesn't want cost overruns and delays in defence projects

Jan 24, 2024

Rather than clear any new acquisitions, the PM wanted answers on how the armed forces handle the obsolescence of platforms and accountability for accidents in which platforms worth hundreds of crore are destroyed or rendered unusable, people familiar with the proceedings of the meeting said on condition of anonymity.

Modi’s concern over the Indian defence research and manufacturing came just two weeks after Prof K VijayRaghavan, former principal scientific adviser to the Modi government, submitted a scathing review report, “Redefining Defence Research and Development” to defence minister Rajnath Singh on December 30.

The high-level committee has made critical observations about DRDO that need urgent attention and reform (see chart). The sum and substance of the report is that DRDO is taking on defence projects it cannot possibly complete in the timelines projected, resulting in heavy cost overruns and technological obsolescence even before the platform is ready. The 10-member committee headed by VijayRaghavan found that DRDO was top heavy with an aging scientific force that was not nimble and focused only on India’s western front (Pakistan) rather than being cognisant of the current threat (an ostensible reference to China). The committee also found that DRDO was reactive to what was being done in third countries with no plans to lead in terms of technological expertise or advancement; DRDO was in a “catch up” mode technologically, not “breakthrough” mode.

The report comes at a time when India has sought to enhance domestic acquisition of defence equipment, and also make products for the export market.

The committee, after talking to stakeholders in government and private sector found there was a no synergy between DRDO and the equipment users, two with the designer and the user mostly talking past each other, leading to lopsided development of platforms.

The VijayRaghavan committee has made 11 key recommendations with implementation deadlines in the report (the longest is 180 days). The report found near total neglect of development of the national ecosystem for defence research with the private sector kept out, ostensibly in the name of national security. It found that DRDO’’s interaction with a resurgent Indian academia and industry was only in the early stages of a project and usually, of a token nature.

The conclusions of the report and the proceedings at the PM’s review meeting suggest that DRDO needs a complete overhaul, armed forces need accountability, and national security planners, the vision to make “Atmanirbhar Bharat” a success.

Jay · Post by **Jay** » 27 Jan 2024 00:44

Just from the highlights posted above, these is a very good plan to restructure our defence labs. The current org structure was first designed in the 70's and it's about time that we bring in armed forces as stake holders in this process. The top 2 reasons why our efforts end up going in circles is because of lack of understanding and pigheadedness by the armed forces in their insistence of requirement's and how they are drafted vs the capability gap on the ground. With this setup, we will have a chance to better align these priorities, at least theoretically. The other reason is the nation's exchequer holding on to their myopic accounting standards and insisting on not losing a penny in the near term while ignoring the reward of a gold bar in the future.

A Sharma · Post by **A Sharma** » 04 Feb 2024 05:15

DRDO FEB 2024

Atmavik · Post by **Atmavik** » 04 Feb 2024 05:27

Looks like an Adani assembled Hermes is delivered back to Israel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58RYxYrsvvk

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 26 Feb 2024 21:07

https://x.com/ReviewVayu/status/1762101 ... 50873?s=20 ---> Adani Defence & Aerospace inaugurates South Asia’s largest Ammunition & Missiles Complex. Spread over 500 acres, full spectrum of ammunition to be manufactured. Investment plan of INR 3,000+ crores. Production started in less than 18 months from land allocation.

https://x.com/alpha_defense/status/1762 ... 82370?s=20 ---> Ammunition Plant by Adani Defence and Aerospace in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

https://x.com/sneheshphilip/status/1762 ... 61260?s=20 ---> And it is finally happening here in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 27 Feb 2024 21:58

Adani unveils South Asia's largest ammunition, missile complex in Kanpur

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 28 Feb 2024 18:23

Nice list of private/public players in India...

https://x.com/FrontlinerUV/status/17627 ... 06394?s=20 ---> Indian Military Industrial Complex Supremacy

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 28 Feb 2024 18:24

https://x.com/DivaJain2/status/1762671992111579259?s=20 ---> India's defense indigenization push needs Dhandhomaxxers who are willing to put capital/resources for JVs which will allow them to absorb tech and truly Make in India.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 28 Feb 2024 20:00

From unmanned naval systems to artillery guns, here are Adani Group’s focus areas in defence sector
https://theprint.in/defence/from-unmann ... r/1981997/
28 Feb 2024

A Sharma · Post by **A Sharma** » 21 Mar 2024 07:03

Army inducts first lot of desi anti-drone systems for China border deployment

srai · Post by **srai** » 21 Mar 2024 07:30

The title of this thread is “India’s R&D…” and yet we are considering Adani license production as one???

rrao · Post by **rrao** » 26 Mar 2024 12:28

DRDO Biggest Hindrance To Atmanirbharta In Defence
Lt.gen katoch( retd)_

https://www.rediff.com/news/column/drd ... 40326.htm

Manish_P · Post by **Manish_P** » 26 Mar 2024 19:16

^ DRDO or OFB ?

IMVHO it's all of the links in the chain, to varying degrees.

The forces themselves with some of the serving decision makers setting unobtanium requirements, while some of the retired ones become (paid) lobbyists for imports, the MoD by doing penny-pinching where they shouldn't, the state owned labs by treating the development as science projects, the state owned production units with their sarkari work culture.

The nascent private industry meanwhile gasps for air with their noses just above the water line

titash · Post by **titash** » 26 Mar 2024 23:04

Manish_P wrote: ↑26 Mar 2024 19:16 DRDO Biggest Hindrance To Atmanirbharta In Defence
Lt.gen katoch( retd)_

https://www.rediff.com/news/column/drdo ... 240326.htm
------------------------------------------
^ DRDO or OFB ?

IMVHO it's all of the links in the chain, to varying degrees.

The forces themselves with some of the serving decision makers setting unobtanium requirements, while some of the retired ones become (paid) lobbyists for imports, the MoD by doing penny-pinching where they shouldn't, the state owned labs by treating the development as science projects, the state owned production units with their sarkari work culture.

The nascent private industry meanwhile gasps for air with their noses just above the water line

^^ Multiple angles of looking at the problem

1) DRDO's strategic missile programs have been an unqualified success. This has been by far the single biggest achievement of DRDO. No one else is selling India a nuclear tipped MIRV Agni-V. The political benefits alone justify the existence of DRDO

2) Yes OFB sucks. But that's not DRDO. In fact no PM in the last 70 years undertook *any* OFB reforms. The good general is not acknowledging that a beginning has been made in the face of opposition from strong vested interests

3) The general has some bad experience with the Akash SAM trials. But he's been retired for a while now. And the tactical missiles are just now picking up speed & credibility because they're leveraging 3 decades of painstaking block development. Let the products mature. Remember that no-one else in India has built anything similar

4) The LCA is in squadron service with 220 confirmed orders. A whole generation of derivatives is planned. Could you have predicted this day even 20 years ago?

Too much negativity. Yes, we can improve a lot, but no need to self-flagellate.

Also, people in their 40s need chai & samosa and low levels of stress. I am in my mid 40s, and can still do top class work albeit at a leisurely pace. This is in the US private sector btw.

bala · Post by **bala** » 26 Mar 2024 23:47

The army gent spoke about other things like engines from DRDO: both the Arjun Tank engine by BEML/CVRDE is getting to fruition and there are rumors of 80KN Kaveri being produced for eventual deployment on Tejas. Tejas has an indigenous gearbox design and so does the Aircraft carrier Vikrant. Gearbox for Arjun can be taken up as a separate project and there is enough expertize within India to make it happen rather quickly. BTW, in nuclear submarines BARC/Navy have the nuclear power engine problem solved and operational. He also has carefully avoided talking about the tremendous strides Indian Navy has made in general for indigenous production of various ships/aircraft carriers. The other area the army gent hasn't spoken of is artillery and what Lt. Gen P R Shankar has achieved in terms of artillery for the army.

The Army requirements for best of brochure specs is not the way to proceed for product development. A sane, sober approach of getting the correct specs is the first step. Changing them midway or at the end is counterproductive. Involving both DRDO and private sector has not happened seemlessly with the Indian army unlike the Indian Navy. The simple task of having a good small arms system shows how bad the Indian army is faring. There are many Indian private sector companies with good enough rifles, the police of many states and border forces have adopted enough of these systems but the army languishes in this area.

drnayar · Post by **drnayar** » 27 Mar 2024 01:01

India's enemies esp China and US are quite active building narratives against the desi mil ind complex. its persistent. we need to understand that its pervasive.

Manish_P · Post by **Manish_P** » 27 Mar 2024 02:01

^^^ self beating was not the intent, at the most a grumbling rant more like.

Yes, we have had successes. Been on this forum for a good many years to know that the successes of today were done over those very years by the hard slogging of the determined minds who beat the obstacles put up by internal and external forces.

Just want to see the habit of the sector scoring consistent wins (like ISRO for eg) for the forces before my time is done. That still feels some time away.. part of it because of the aloof supplier-customer kind of relationship.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 28 Mar 2024 15:15

Has Arjun passed this trial yet ....

srai · Post by **srai** » 28 Mar 2024 15:24

^^^
Now you have done it!

The IA will internalize this “brilliant” idea

Nikhil_Naya · Post by **Nikhil_Naya** » 28 Mar 2024 18:37

New GSQR for Arjun MK2.1 - After tipping over it should be able to self right itself right way up. The weight addition for this must not exceed 120 grams.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 28 Mar 2024 19:39

srai wrote: ↑28 Mar 2024 15:24 ^^^
Now you have done it!

The IA will internalize this “brilliant” idea

srai ji,

mind it.

the superiority of foreign tanks ( and their transporters) is unquestionable

This is the MAN version

The capabilities of the WOMAN version are still classified, and even the chandigarh lobby (especially their supreme governing body - the battle field bevdas) has not been made aware of the secret specs of this armoured kaur beauty

Before the meeting starts, they are eagerly awaiting the complimentary delivery of a large shipment of choice single malts that will help lubricate and also enliven the process

ashishvikas · Post by **ashishvikas** » 29 Mar 2024 12:46

Jindal Advanced Materials ties up with Italy's MAE to invest Rs 2,700 cr in carbon fibre plant

https://m-economictimes-com.cdn.ampproj ... 855314.cms