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

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 08 Aug 2012 11:02

Secret revealing style of countries:
1. US -> You will only see in wars that they have and later in holywood movies
2. China -> You will see in testing phase
3. India -> You will know by the time they thought about it.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 13 Aug 2012 22:02

DRDO spending crores, but no positive outcome

New Delhi: The Defence Research and Development organisation, country's premier body for development of defence related technology, has allegedly spent crores of rupees in the name of expenditure on technology, but there has been no positive outcome.

A top secret audit of DRDO ordered by Defence Minister AK Antony has revealed that there is virtual lack of transparency in decision making mechanism in the organisation, which was created to look after country's defence needs. With a budget of over Rs 10,000 crore DRDO has enjoyed full mandate from successive governments for over six decades.

The audit accessed by CNN-IBN reveals that financial sanctions are being split so that they don't have to go to higher authorities. Programme for development of main battle tank Arjun was sanctioned at Rs 69.99 crore. However, the entire programme was split into smaller sub-heads so that higher ups within the system could be avoided.

The fact that projects under DRDO have been delayed extensively is well known. Now the report also raises questions about how the DRDO is taking decisions.

Product support and product improvement of NAG weapon system was sanctioned at a cost of Rs 28.35 crore, despite the fact that the Cabinet Committee on Security approved similar programme was still in the pipeline.

The cost of UAV and aerostat was brought down just to ensure that no higher authority could question the financial approval given.

Several split sanctions were also issued for renovation of DRDO Bhawan while unauthorised sanction of Rs 49.15 crore to develop vehicle testing facility from public accounts mainly for civilian use was also granted.

The report further says that a project for development of satellite signal monitoring was sanctioned at a cost of Rs 29.96 crore without any formal requirement from the defence services. While the project was still on, a sanction of Rs 24.5 crore was given for procurement of a similar technology.

There have been several arbitrary costing of products under garb of development like sanction of Rs 14.5 crore for development of four stroke cylinder engine technology. But the parties chosen by the DRDO didn't have adequate research capabilities. The report goes on to say that the DRDO has facilitated entry of foreign companies in certain areas and the projects being undertaken are not for development but for the entry of foreign vendors.

The report says that Dr VK Saraswat gave an improper approval for a grant of Rs 2.8 crore to a society which he heads himself. Further scrutiny even revealed that the body which got the aid didn’t have expert manpower.

Several irregularities have also been detected in appointment of chairpersons of different organisations with huge amounts being spent on it.

However, the defence minister has refused to react to these findings.

On the other hand the DRDO has refuted the allegations.

"DRDO strongly refutes observations made in the report and is in the process of compiling its responses despite the fact that the findings of audit already stand vitiated. Since laid down procedure was not followed and the report was issued without authorisation, the matter is under examination and correspondence with the concerned. All laid down procedures are being followed by DRDO in a transparent manner and interests of the State are the sole consideration during the process of decision making," said DRDO Director Ravi Gupta.

Now through this report questions are being raised about how DRDO is taking decisions.

sum · Post by **sum** » 13 Aug 2012 22:05

^^ Ajai Shukla was on CNN-IBN blasting this report and pointing out basic mistakes which are passed off as "informed comments" in this report.

Says that it is clear that the report has a malicious intent and that DRDO bashing seems to be main time-pass these days for DDM and certain quarters since though DRDO has its flaws, the things mentioned in the report are bunkum

nakul · Post by **nakul** » 13 Aug 2012 22:52

No need to get worked up on the report. It is a report by CNN. As usual, pandering to American interests where anything SDRE == bad, TFTA == good. Can they do a comparison between the costs of the F-35 program and compare it to DRDO's budget??

Katare · Post by **Katare** » 13 Aug 2012 23:35

It's not CNN report but an official Indian audit report. It has nothing to do with race and color but it might still be a farce/ddm anyway.

nakul · Post by **nakul** » 14 Aug 2012 00:24

I suggest you read the article above. Some quotes

Programme for development of main battle tank Arjun was sanctioned at Rs 69.99 crore.

Product support and product improvement of NAG weapon system was sanctioned at a cost of Rs 28.35 crore

Several split sanctions were also issued for renovation of DRDO Bhawan while unauthorised sanction of Rs 49.15 crore to develop vehicle testing facility from public accounts mainly for civilian use was also granted.

I would say even if they take 10 times the above amount to develop the respective weapons, they are not wasting it.

Anyway, the opening statement says it all

The Defence Research and Development organisation, country's premier body for development of defence related technology, has allegedly spent crores of rupees in the name of expenditure on technology, but there has been no positive outcome.

Raman · Post by **Raman** » 14 Aug 2012 02:34

The audit accessed by CNN-IBN reveals that financial sanctions are being split so that they don't have to go to higher authorities.

In other words, they were doing what ever they could to avoid getting stuck in stupid bureaucratic bullshit. I bet the "laid down procedures" require signature in triplicate from the Director and No Object Certificate from the Comptroller every time they need to buy refills for ball-point pens.

Indranil · Post by **Indranil** » 14 Aug 2012 02:46

^^^ Where the hell is the "like" button?

Katare · Post by **Katare** » 14 Aug 2012 05:00

Nakul, the point is its ddm/bogus/motivated and everything else but has nothing to with race/color/ and CNN.

Neela · Post by **Neela** » 14 Aug 2012 10:35

Bhupendra Chaubey wrote:A top secret audit of DRDO ordered by Defence Minister AK Antony has revealed that there is virtual lack of transparency in decision making mechanism in the organisation, which was created to look after country's defence needs. With a budget of over Rs 10,000 crore DRDO has enjoyed full mandate from successive governments for over six decades.

Is he Bhupendra or Dupendra? If it is taaap segret, why is CNN-IBN's Chuabey given access? .

member_22539 · Post by **member_22539** » 14 Aug 2012 17:43

^^A-hole got is a$$ whooped by Ajai. Maybe he was hoping to sell a new bashing spree to his credit. These people must be made to pay for their propaganda and sophistry. We must begin by banning all foreign investment in media, particularly news media.

nakul · Post by **nakul** » 14 Aug 2012 17:47

The US - Indian strategic partnership not only involves India buying US weapons but also a pro US atmosphere in the media. In essence, US is the harbinger of peace and development and only those who support their agenda are the good guys. We already have a pro INC media. Would they charge extra for being pro US as well?

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 14 Aug 2012 18:21

jee.. with the needed transparency [or whatever fools likes to call it] .. drdo is getting some support.. else, it would have been long written history with firangies invaded into even budgeting for drdo projects. wtf is going on? USSI & CCCP of I in the making eh!

we definitely need not know how they make the A5 shields.. but we definitely need to know what they are making. it is important to grow and not succumb to these evil forces. .. what drdo does should be exposed to public at 50k feet... and whatever it is doing now is excellent. I don't think drdo is revealing secrets of how to build systems.

besides, what is so secrete about keeping a national program surprise unless, the secrecy is needed.. like nukes etc. btw, had Arjun been in the secrete development, do you all think it would get that much needed support?

???

nakul · Post by **nakul** » 14 Aug 2012 18:29

Naah! They are trying to get their fingers into another pie. The US has been succesful in putting its minions in UK, Germany, Japan, SK & France to varying extents. They don't want to miss India. They are putting all their efforts into making sure that we end up as another Israel. Too dependent to show them the middle finger and an arms industry that will not threaten its interests anywhere. Expect them to tie us up in more strategic agreements that require extensive political backing from America to push Indian interests closer to theirs. Since the Pakis have started showing their true colors, they are on the lookout for new poodles.

Sagar G · Post by **Sagar G** » 14 Aug 2012 20:41

The audit accessed by CNN-IBN

Funny thing is that the audit is ongoing and this turd has access to a prepared one

subhamoy.das · Post by **subhamoy.das** » 15 Aug 2012 10:26

More funny is the fact that this is the very nature of Innovation. DRDO is engaged in innovation and it is quite natural that a % of their annual budget will go down the drain. The audit should specify the % and not throw in sensational words like "crores wasted etc.." It will be interesting to see a % of their annual budget VS the amount of sales the downstream production agencies did - based on DRDO innovations - to get the sunny side of their contribution to the nation.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 16 Aug 2012 23:10

DRDO revamp still in doldrums

Over four years after the Rama Rao Committee (RRC) submitted its report in February 2008, none of the major recommendations to make DRDO a better R&D organization capable of developing state-of-the-art weapon systems without time and cost overruns has been implemented.

Another committee led by the defence secretary subsequently watered down several steps suggested by the RRC to arrive at "a set of acceptable recommendations". But even this "major DRDO restructuring plan", grandiosely announced by the defence ministry in May 2010, is yet to see the light of day.

PM Manmohan Singh, last month, warned there was an urgent need to "change our current bureaucratic system'' of administering scientific and technical departments.

"Organizationally too, DRDO should aim at becoming leaner and making the best use of its human, financial and technological resources,'' he said.

With India still importing well over 60% of its military needs, experts feel it's imperative to drastically overhaul the DRDO-defence PSU set-up as well as strongly push for private sector participation to build a strong domestic defence-industrial base.

But that seems a pipe dream. As part of the revamp of DRDO, which has an over Rs 10,500 crore annual budget, a new Defence Technology Commission (DTC) was to be established with defence minister A K Antony as its chairman. Quizzed about the delay, officials said "a note for the DTC has been initiated for the Union Cabinet's approval''. DRDO, in turn, is pushing for an "empowered'' DTC on the lines of the space and atomic energy commissions.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 16 Aug 2012 23:15

srai wrote:for designing and successful demonstration of a modified HEAT warhead for anti-tank guided missile Nag with 1000 mm penetration in MS

...

1000 mm penetration is good specially for top attack missile

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 18 Aug 2012 06:15

Piramal Enterprises picks up 27% stake in Bluebird Aero Systems.

Piramal Enterprises, of the Ajay Piramal-led group, joins the list of Indian companies that see a growing opportunity in the Defence sector.

It has picked up a 27.83 per cent stake in Bluebird Aero Systems, an Israel-based unmanned air systems manufacturer, for about Rs 40 crore ($7 million). Bluebird is set to bid for contracts in India.

Piramal’s deal with Bluebird Aero Systems is considered unique as the company is an initiative of former engineers of the Israel Defence Forces. Bluebird has an agreement with Bangalore’s Dynamatic Technologies for manufacturing and marketing mini and micro tactical, unmanned aerial vehicles in India.

Companies such as Tata Motors, Mahindra and Mahindra and L&T have a presence in the Defence sector, as they hope to capitalise on the offset clause — foreign suppliers must have a percentage of local content in the orders they bag to supply to the sector. India’s Defence budget for this year is up 17 per cent to $38 billion.

BSE-listed Rossell India, which recently diversified into Defence procurement, has floated a joint venture with CAE, Canada, for simulation training solutions for the Defence sector. Following FIPB approval, Rossell India is to hold 74 per cent, with CAE holding 26 per cent share in the venture.

The venture will focus on providing training solutions for Defence procurement. An official said the Defence Ministry has specifically recognised simulation and training services as being eligible under the Indian offset criteria for Defence programmes.

Early this month, Mahindra and Mahindra and New York-headquartered Telephonics Corporations announced a joint venture to provide advanced airborne surveillance and communication systems to the Defence Ministry and Civil sector. The tie-up envisages establishing a plant at Bangalore, which will initially manufacture and service airborne radar systems being supplied to Hindustan Aeronautics.

Tata Motors will invest around Rs 600 crore on developing Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicles. The company’s current market share in the wheeled military segment is approximately 40 per cent, and in the internal security segment is 75 per cent. “We work very closely with the Defence Research and Development Organisation on the potential needs of the forces,” said a company spokesperson.

A Sharma · Post by **A Sharma** » 19 Aug 2012 08:13

From L&T Annual Report FY11-12

Specific areas in which R&D carried out by the Company

Development of Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicle.
Development of mechanical systems & fire control algorithms for mobile artillery systems such as the Towed and Tracked Self Propelled 155 mm Guns.
Development of Dual band Antenna & High frequency RF receiver along with its stabilized platform for high speed & ultra-reliable tracking system.
Development of optronics & drive packages for Air Defence Gun upgrades.
Development of Torpedo Weapon Complex for submarines.
Development of Autonomous Underwater Vehicle for surveillance & target simulation.
Development of integrated power pack solutions for remotely operated tracked vehicles.
Development of water jet propulsion system for high speed crafts.
Development of military communication hardware & solutions and ion-mobile spectroscopy based chemical agent monitors.
Development of capabilities & technologies related to Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave Radars;
Multi-sensor data fusion for automated target recognition; Video analytics for enhanced situationawareness and composite material based radomes & sonar domes.
Development of special purpose machine for machining of composites for Universal Vertical Missile launchers.

AbhiJ · Post by **AbhiJ** » 19 Aug 2012 15:43

^^^

L&T Fin stabliser for Navy corvettes
http://jjamwal.in/blog/wp-content/uploa ... G_0594.jpg

L&T Underwater torpedo tube
http://jjamwal.in/blog/wp-content/uploa ... G_0598.jpg

L&T Indigenous Twin Tube Torpedo launcher

L&T Interceptor Boat Bridge Console

arya · Post by **arya** » 19 Aug 2012 22:20

AbhiJ wrote:^^^

L&T Fin stabliser for Navy corvettes
http://jjamwal.in/blog/wp-content/uploa ... G_0594.jpg

L&T Underwater torpedo tube
http://jjamwal.in/blog/wp-content/uploa ... G_0598.jpg

L&T Indigenous Twin Tube Torpedo launcher

L&T Interceptor Boat Bridge Console

Forbidden

member_22906 · Post by **member_22906** » 19 Aug 2012 23:26

http://livefist.blogspot.in/2012/08/emb ... eport.html

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 20 Aug 2012 22:02

http://news.in.msn.com/business/article ... =250532218
First Tata-made Sikorsky S-92 helicopter airframe flies in Brazil

London: The first Sikorsky S-92 - a large, twin-engine helicopter that can be used for both civil and military purposes - with a Made-in-India airframe is now flying in Brazil.

Air Vice Marshal (retd) Arvind Walia, Sikorsky's regional executive for India and South Asia, told India Strategic defence magazine (www.indiastrategic.in) that the Tatas have supplied 15 airframes to the US company, which is fitting them with cockpits, engines, systems and rotors. The completed helicopters are then ready for supply to global customers.

The flight tests on the first Tata-made S-92 cabin have progressed satisfactorily and the helicopter is now being customised for supply to Lider Aviacao of Brazil. Lider charters both aircraft and helicopters for multi-applications, including servicing offshore oil installations.

Sikorsky and the Tata group already have a 26:74 partnership joint venture, TARA, which manufactures and supplies about 4,300 components to the Tata Advanced Systems Ltd. (TASL) in Hyderabad. TASL, a Tata company, makes the cabins, fits them with these components and sends them to the Sikorsky facility at Coatsville in Pennsylvania.

keshavchandra · Post by **keshavchandra** » 21 Aug 2012 13:31

nash wrote:
keshavchandra wrote:there is a good news, Discovery channel will show a new series on DRDO research projects. So hope we may get good insight.
what is the probable timing..

Its 25th Aug 6 PM.

udy · Post by **udy** » 29 Aug 2012 20:13

Heads up guys. Drdo has posted a graphic of the Rustom II in one of the tenders on its website as also information on F-INSAS.

Indranil · Post by **Indranil** » 30 Aug 2012 02:17

Name of the tender please.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 30 Aug 2012 06:13

Why can't they use the autolay software for rustom 2?

they could consider the wing folding models for fitting into the iso containers.

udy · Post by **udy** » 30 Aug 2012 13:14

It is the last four Ade tenders on the Live Tenders Page.

Tender Pageurl

Indranil · Post by **Indranil** » 30 Aug 2012 23:17

^^^ Indeed a lot of information. Thank you.

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 31 Aug 2012 03:03

Swedish co SAAB Technology to invest Rs 210 cr in Pipavav Defence.

A recently-signed “technology partnership agreement’’ between the Swedish company SAAB Technology and Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering will see the Swedish company investing Rs 210 crore in the Indian company.

SAAB is a part of the Wallenberg group of Sweden and ranks among the world’s leading defence, aerospace and security companies.

“Investment from SAAB will be invested to enhance Pipavav’s infrastructure capability for building and maintenance of military hardware for the Indian army and export markets,” says a Pipavav notice to the stock exchanges.

Calling the agreement a “significant development”, Pipavav said that the Swedish company would bring world-class military technology which will benefit hugely Indian armed forces.

The Wallenberg group, to which SAAB belongs, owns several well-known global companies such as ABB, SKF, AstraZeneca, Ericsson and Electrolax.

For 2011-12, Pipavav Defence reported a turnover of Rs 1,867 crore and a net profit of Rs 18.52 crore. In the first quarter of the current year, the company achieved a turnover of Rs 572 crore and a net profit of Rs 2 crore. Each share earned 3 paise.

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 31 Aug 2012 03:04

Tata Motors sets aside land for combat vehicles in Karnataka.

Tata Motors has set aside 16 acres exclusively for its Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicles (FICV) project at Dharwad, Karnataka.

The combat vehicles, leveraged from the strength in design and development of a wide range of commercial vehicles, has enabled the company to cover the entire defence mobility spectrum.The new unit is to have a capacity of 200 vehicles a year.The company is to invest around Rs 600 crore for the development of the combat vehicles and to set up the manufacturing plant.

“Though a lot of work has already gone into developmental activities for the FICV at Pune, we are hopeful to commence project development at our Dharwad facility soon.“We have dedicated funds for the FICV project,” said a spokesperson of Tata Motors.

Revenue from the defence business was about Rs 1,000 crore in 2011-12, up 50 per cent over the last year.Tata Motors is looking at 25-35 per cent growth in the current fiscal.

The knowledge and experience gained through the developmental projects has inspired Tata Motors to become a full-fledged Defence OEM in Land Systems with ‘System and System Integration’ (SOSI) capability.“This was one of the reasons for Tata Motors to bid for the FICV project.“We are one among four companies to have received expression of interest (EOI) to supply around 2,000 units of indigenous infantry combat vehicles,” the official added.

With defence requirements on the rise in several States, especially in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, MP and Maharashtra, the need for armoured vehicles by the CRPF and other Central paramilitary forces has also precipitated.Demand from J&K and North Eastern States has also increased.

Tata Motors is striving to serve the need through the supply of Light Armoured Troop Carriers, Light Bullet Proof Vehicles and Mine Protected Vehicles.Tata Motors current market share in the wheeled military segment is approximately 40 per cent, and in the internal security is 75 per cent.

“We work very closely with the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) on the potential needs of the forces,” said the spokesperson.The company is also in the exploratory stage of entering the West Asian market for its defence vehicles.

Victor · Post by **Victor** » 31 Aug 2012 12:12

Putting the Rustom II's engines "upside down" like on the An-32 would give it more free room under the wings, close to the fuselage, for weapons. Right now that looks like a potential problem. Doctored a photo to show this:

tushar_m · Post by **tushar_m** » 31 Aug 2012 15:21

no news of AURA program ?????

Indranil · Post by **Indranil** » 31 Aug 2012 20:27

Victor wrote:Putting the Rustom II's engines "upside down" like on the An-32 would give it more free room under the wings, close to the fuselage, for weapons. Right now that looks like a potential problem. Doctored a photo to show this:

In my opinion the RustomII design is not ideal for missile underneath the wings design. Even with your design, you won't save much. You can't shoot through the props. Plus you will need longer landing gears which would add weight. The same weight can be utilized in strengthening the wings to carrying the loads further out on the wing.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 01 Sep 2012 00:19

actually they do.. cannons can fire through props. but old stuff WW1?. fokker

Victor · Post by **Victor** » 01 Sep 2012 00:50

Yes, Rustom II was apparently not designed with armed missions in mind even though this article quotes a team member saying it's supposed to be armed "similar to the Predator". The graphic even seems to show hardpoints.

Anyway, what I am pointing out (as a chairmarshal) is that by raising the engine and the prop arc, we may be able to achieve some important things with minimal rejiggering:
* under wing space becomes available for weapons pylons in the wing root area close to the fuselage where strengthening is easiest--if required.
* weapons on pylons will be clear of props
* existing weights/loads are not changed

Weapons hardpoints/pylons can be moved farther out on the wing as is but this is not ideal on long & thin high-altitude optimized wings.

The other strange/abnormal feature IMO is the outsize vertical fin seen in the blue mockup and some graphics. This would add instability to the UAV without any obvious benefits. It would be interesting to know what the designers were thinking.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 02 Sep 2012 08:22

Pl. read the full feature in the Indian Express on the secret world of the DRDO,thanks to an audit of its performance by AKA,its patchy performance,enormous escalation in project costs,developing obsolete tech at huge cost when superior firang systems are available at far lesser cost,unaccountability of top management ,declining numbers of scientists,non-performance of weapon systems like INSAS,delays in programmes,deliberately bypassing the MOD for project approval by lowering the initial project cost to below 50cr.,etc.,etc.

http://newindianexpress.com/magazine/article598145.ece

The secret world of DRDO

By Yatish Yadav and Nardeep Singh Dahiya

02nd September 2012 12:00 AM

India is at war. Tejas fighters wheel over a smoke dark battleground, taking down enemy aircraft with their superior radar and missile capabilities. Lower still, Indian-designed helicopters are giving hell to enemy armour and troop formations with missiles and machine-gun fire. On the ground, mighty Arjun tanks lumber slowly across dunes, sure of their inpenetrable Kanchan armour even as they spew death through their 120 mm guns. Jawans crouch and advance with the tanks, firing three-round bursts from their INSAS rifles and lobbing bhut jholokia grenades at their foes. They are tireless, having imbibed performance-enhancing pills, and well-fed, having had spoil-proof parathas and self-heated packaged meals before battle.

This is what a DRDO dream looks like. However, a nightmare was revealed recently when Defence Minister A K Antony ordered the Comptroller General of Defence Audit (CGDA) to do a secret audit of India’s equivalent of the futuristic workshop of James Bond’s ‘Q’ — the Defence Research and Development Organisation that goes by the handle DRDO.

The highlights of the report are frightening. Here are some of them:

* DRDO has been developing equipment which is either sub-standard or have extended deadlines and additional budgets;

* Many of the projects have been sanctioned without the requisite government approval. Only 10 per cent of projects have come to the ministry for clearance;

* Corruption and nepotism exists in the upper echelons;

* There is an exodus of qualified scientists;

DRDO has challenged the findings but the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has taken cognisance of them. It will be ordering a review of the agency’s approval processes as well as that of the recent proposal to enhance the financial powers for DRDO chief V K Saraswat.

Waste products

Crores of rupees are spent on research that mostly flops

The CGDA audit findings raise serious questions on the capability of this defence outfit, which has an annual budget of Rs 10,500 crore. Established in 1958, it has a network of 52 laboratories nationwide, employing 5,000 scientists with about 25,000 support staff. But only 29 per cent of the products developed during the last 17 years are being used by the Armed Forces. The audit notes that in several cases, DRDO bought equipment from other companies after spending crores on R&D. For instance, the CGDA found that after spending two years and Rs 29.96 crore to develop satellite signal monitoring, DRDO ultimately bought the same from a public sector undertaking on a single tender basis for Rs 24.50 crore in April 2011. “If such technologies are indeed commercially available, where was the need of a development project by DRDO?” the audit asked. DRDO also spent Rs 6.85 crore to develop explosive detectors, which were offered to the army for Rs 30 lakh each. Foreign versions of these are available off the shelf for Rs 9.8 lakh per piece, a price that also includes repair and maintenance.

The CGDA report criticised the ‘joint development’ technology initiative of DRDO, calling it “import of older, foreign technology under the disguise of joint development.” The CGDA accused DRDO of promoting Israeli company M/S SCD without the mandatory formal transfer of technology agreement. Commenting on a DRDO deal to develop a higher format uncooled detector, the CGDA said: “DRDO shall be financing the development expenditure of `19.90 crore by releasing it direct to M/S SCD Israel. Basically, instead of doing development itself, DRDO is funding a foreign agency’s development effort, that too, without any explicit arrangements being finalised about ownership of intellectual property generated from such financing,” noted the CGDA. “Neither the production agency nor the users — mechanised forces of army — have been kept in the loop,” the CGDA report says.

With a chaotic record of arms experiments and eccentric choices of spending money on pickles and automated idli and dosa makers for aircraft carriers, the very reason for DRDO’s existence seems dubious. Says V K Mittal, a former senior scientist with the agency, “DRDO technology is almost two decades old. Two projects, namely Samyukta and Sangraha electronic warfare equipment, were partially inducted in the armed forces, but users felt these were outdated and more expensive than the latest technology available.” Meanwhile, the agency has developed many products that is meant for the soldier at the front: DRDO pickles made of semi-ripe berries and spices such as red chilli powder, cinnamon, cumin, cardamom, black pepper powder, and clovers, spicy potato parathas, instant kadhi mixes, cashewnut barfi, mutton vegetable korma, instant halwa mix, egg biscuits and instant upma mix are among its culinary achievements. The agency also successfully bred a region-specific hybrid goat using technology that mixed the genes of adaptive and meat traits through cross-breeding breeds such as Changthangi and Gaddi and Sirohi and Black Bengal goats. DRDO has also developed ‘Lukoskin’, a herbal care product for leucoderma and the performance enhancing drug Perfomax which is meant to “improve physical and mental performance in high altitude and hypoxic conditions.” In true 007 style, it has also developed a car coolant that will not freeze in extreme temperatures. The crores of rupees wasted in innumerable half-baked projects add up to quite a sum. In a separate report by CAG in 2011-12, the DRDO is criticised for spending crores on random research projects. In 2011, out of 55 high priority projects based on user-requirements, only thirteen went into production. A modular bridge, being developed for the army was shelved in 2010, after eight years of experiments and spending Rs 21.46 crore. Six months later, Rs 13.25 crore was sanctioned for another modular bridge project. The initiative to produce next generation laser weapons was closed down within a month after equipment was procured.

“We are dangerously behind our adversaries. China is far ahead in indigenous technology in both tanks and missiles sector. DRDO’s claim of modern technology is too old when it is delivered to armed forces. It is a big disappointment”, observes security analyst Major General (Retd) Afsir Karim.

Flop wonders

Institutions without qualifications are promoted

Defence minister Antony had asked the CGDA to investigate after receiving complaints on suspected manipulation in DRDO contracts, undue favor to some external vendors, and irregular appointments in the agency which runs a vast network across the country. Its annual budget has no audit verified document to show what value has been generated so far through its technologies. Under a very personal cloud is DRDO chief V K Saraswat. The CGDA has questioned why he granted Rs 2.88 crore to a mathematics institute to develop a futuristic radar when its scientists are not even remotely connected with research relating to the project. Incidentally, Saraswat is the president of the institute’s governing body. The audit also stated that the institute lacked expert manpower, and started recruitment only after getting DRDO funds that were released without due diligence. A Dehradun scientific lab was granted Rs 14 crore to develop a communication link, while the institute headed by Saraswat was also sanctioned Rs 2.98 crore to develop the same technology — it doesn’t have even basic facilities like computers for individual researchers. “It shows that the radar development project is being split in different parts to avoid going to the ministry and users with a proper full scope development programme,” the CGDA said. The DRDO understandably refutes the findings. “These are only observations. The laid down procedure of audit was not followed, and it was issued without authorisation. It is a one-sided report. We will give a point by point reply of audit findings. DRDO has achieved several milestones and that nobody is talking about, ” retorted Dr Ravi Gupta, DRDO’s official spokesperson. However, the CGDA report says that DRDO has tried to camouflage its failures in the name of secrecy and national security.

Says Commodore (Retd) Uday Bhaskar, former head of the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), “The Government is not willing to discuss the Rama Rao committee report that talks about reforming DRDO. It shows that they are not serious about the decaying of a government institution, which in the last 30 to 40 years has completely disappointed the users. Money is being spent without any effect on indigenous programmes. I will appeal to Indian Parliament to take this matter and discuss the issue.”

Project black hole

DRDO has been spending fresh money on its own failed projects

The CGDA accuses the DRDO of functioning in a non-transparent manner. “There is no comprehensive database to find out the details of projects sanctioned for execution by the DRDO and how many has been declared as successful,” it said. Antony was also informed that DRDO has been operating as an authority unto itself, bypassing the MoD where many crucial expenses are involved: the agency comes under the ministry and its main objective is to develop a modern technology base and equip the defence forces with internationally competitive systems and weapons. During 2009-2010, DRDO sanctioned 702 projects costing above `50 lakh but only 102 research projects were referred to the ministry. The audit body also questioned the grounds on which DRDO authorities sanctioned new projects in the name of completing failed projects with questionable changes in scope to avoid ministry’s nod. For example, DRDO took up a project for development of counter mine flail (CMF) for T-72 tanks at a cost of `8 crore in December 2002. CMF is a device that creates a safe passage through a minefield by deliberately detonating land mines in front of the vehicle that it is mounted on. Army HQ revised the requirement in 2004, but DRDO continued with the old parameters and in 2008, the product failed tests. In spite of this, it was not closed and in February 2011, another new project costing Rs 49.85 crore was sanctioned for the same CMF project.

Armaments apart, the DRDO has been splurging 10 per cent of its annual budget on construction of offices and auditoriums. CGDA also indicted DRDO for unauthorised sanction of Rs 49.15 crore to develop a vehicle testing facility in Pune — mainly for civilian use — disregarding approval rules.

“There is a lack of transparency and accountability in the name of defence research. For decades, DRDO has been promising a lot to the armed forces but have failed to deliver. The top brass should be made accountable. Unless this happens, money will be squandered away on technologically outdated projects and the armed forces will be cheated,” says Mittal.

Meanwhile, there has been a huge exodus of scientists from the agency. Last year, 86 scientists took VRS. Says Gen Karim, “The functioning of DRDO is improper. In the next five years, the difference between our adversaries and us would be glaring. The MoD is not serious about reforming DRDO. A national blueprint is required for this.”

The swadeshi trap

Unplanned indigenisation leads to losses and aborted projects

In this situation, how efficacious are the agency’s multimillion-dollar projects? India purchases arms worth $6.9 billion from the US, making it America’s second largest defence client after the Saudis. The Congressional Research Service’s annual survey of global arms sales written by Richard Grimmett and Paul Kerr says India is fast upgrading its equipment from its Soviet-era arsenal. In late 1993, a committee headed by then Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister and DRDO chief APJ Abdul Kalam had set the goal of 70 per cent of indigenisation in weapons production by 2005; DRDO has not moved beyond the 30 per cent it had reached in 1995. The passion for swadeshi is the principle behind the money being spent by the Indian government on DRDO. But most of DRDO equipment malfunctions or the projects themselves are yet to take off or are delayed, sucking in more and more money.

Rifle recoil: The mass produced INSAS rifle, meant to be the main rifle for the Indian Army has been known to malfunction in extreme conditions. The first known debacle was on August 7, 2005. As the evening shadows grew longer at the Royal Nepal Army’s Pili camp in western Kalikot district, about 550 km northwest of capital Kathmandu, Maoist fighters massed silently outside. The roads connecting the camp that housed about 200 soldiers — mostly employed in the construction of a new highway — had been mined. A little before 6 pm, over 1,000 Maoists attacked the camp. Armed with INSAS rifles, the Nepalese soldiers fought back, but in vain. By 4 pm, the Maoists had captured 100 soldiers, and executed 40 of them. Nepal blamed INSAS malfunctions for the disaster: “The rifles are okay if you fight for an hour or two, but are not appropriate for long battles. If we had better weapons, our casualties would have been much less,” said a Nepal government spokesman. In November 2011, the Ministry of Defence issued a tender for 66,000 assault rifles to replace the INSAS. The MoD wanted the new rifles to be able to switch calibres between the small, high-velocity 5.56 mm rounds the INSAS fires and the devastatingly powerful 7.62 mm rounds of the older FAL rifles.

The story of this short-lived rifle epitomises the drift in the way the DRDO works, and also between it and the armed forces. The DRDO took a decade to design the INSAS. A few years later, it was supplied to the Army throughout the later half of the 1990s. But the Army did not put all its eggs in the desi basket; it bought 100,000 AK-47s from Bulgaria in 1995 for its frontline units in Kashmir. The INSAS began rolling off the lines soon after, at a cost several times that of the Kalashnikov. When war broke out in Kargil in 1999, INSASs jammed; the transparent polymer magazines cracked. Its ammunition-conserving three-round burst went virally fully automatic. An oil spray glitch was detected. By 2002, the Army had ordered the Israeli Tavor 21 rifle for its special forces and the Galil for its snipers. This year, the Special Forces will induct US-made M-4 rifles, the Vietnam-era M-16’s newer version that US soldiers now use in Afghanistan. “DRDO products are half imported and half prepared here, which is dangerous. Defence is too serious business to be left to one party. It is the user — our armed forces — who will decide which product is useful. DRDO cannot claim success of a product sitting in the workshop,” says Gen Karim.

Air disaster: In the early 1980s, the Indian Air Force was over-reliant on Soviet-made MiG-21s, which would be phased out, beginning in the mid-90s. In 1984, the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), a national consortium of over 100 defence laboratories, industrial organisations, and academic institutions with HAL being the principal contractor, was created specifically to manage the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme. The DRDO was to develop the plane’s flight control system, hi-tech radar, and engine. DRDO delivered on the flight control system. However, the radar was the one that was to be developed by Ericsson and Ferranti Defence Systems Integration for the Gripen, a topline Swedish fighter plane. DRDO decided to develop the radar at home, and started in 1997. In 10 years, cost escalations, delays and other serious problems grounded the project, which is now being developed with help from the Elta group, an Israel Aerospace Industries subsidiary. Kaveri, the engine of the LCA — christened Tejas by former PM Atal Behari Vajpayee — was to be developed by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment, Bangalore using prototypes made by General Electrics, USA. By 2003, it had to be abandoned for an upgraded version of the GE engine used in the prototypes selected to power the first pre-production Tejas. The Kaveri had, in the meantime, failed high-altitude tests carried out in Russia, and by 2008, was officially declared unsuitable. GE was selected to provide 99 engines that were even better than the ones used in the first LCAs. Mysteriously, 15 actuators of the aircraft that were part of the LCA’s integrated flight control system went missing in December 2008 from Heathrow, London. The Tejas has flown, and well, but with an Israeli radar and American engine. The Kaveri programme alone cost the nation about Rs 2,800 crore over 23 years; the cost overrun of the entire LCA programme is estimated at about 3,000 per cent.

Tanked hopes: It took 35 years to make India’s main battle tank Arjun. In 1974, DRDO’s Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment at Chennai started designing the tank expected to be ready for war in 10 years. The Arjun was to weigh 40 tonnes with a 105 mm main gun. By the time it was finished in 2000, the tank had grown in size to 58.5 tonnes with a 120 mm gun that can fire rockets. In terms of cost overrun, the Arjun is the champion of delay and drift: it has cost 20 times the initial estimate to make an Indian tank with a German engine. It is so big that ordinary Indian rail wagons, the ones that have been transporting our older Soviet- and British-origin tanks had to be redesigned to accommodate its bulk. Military planners say bridges will collapse under Arjun’s weight. The Army and DRDO have been at loggerheads over the Arjun. Field tests have varied wildly: some have given the Arjun a junk rating, and others say it’s the best thing to have happened to the Armoured Corps. The tank is a ‘jugaad’ queen. South African howitzers have been mated to its chassis to make a self-propelled field gun that DRDO calls Bhima. The army will, at last, add to its ranks about 250-odd Arjuns, and 1,000 T-90s. The next Indian tank, the Futuristic MBT, may well come from a joint initiative with Russia.

As the MoD prepares to review DRDO’s financial procedures, the news is not all bad on the achievement front. Last week, the 350-km range surface-to-surface Prithvi II missile was successfully flight tested at the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur in Odissa. Saraswat, a multitude of rings embedded with various stones flashing on his fingers celebrated by feeding laddoos to the army commander present. However, the question for him is, after the ministry’s review, what’s for just desserts.

The DRDO report card
Manmohan’s three monkeys: Fumble, mumble, grumble

sum · Post by **sum** » 02 Sep 2012 09:40

Crores of rupees are spent on research that mostly flops

Stopped reading the article when i saw this sentence.

Guess as per IE or other GoI bean counters, if research doesnt produce anything, it is a waste of money !! Guess thats by this logic, even Massa R&D institutes are a real white elephant given the huge amounts pumped in

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 02 Sep 2012 09:45

What is the firang moolah they get to write such things?