India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
^sure.. it looks this would be the answer even now or near future.
Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
DRDL official's kidnapped son found murdered
Thought it best to be posted here as it relates to DRDL.The decomposed body of 11-year-old, Ch. Pranav, who was kidnapped three days ago from outside his house in Asifnagar while waiting to receive a friend, was found in a gunny bag in a nala at Gudimalkapur on Monday.
Police believe Pranav, son of Deputy Project Director of the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Ch. Rammohan Rao, was smothered to death the day he was kidnapped, and suspect a city-based gang to be behind it. Motive behind the boy's abduction and murder, however, is not yet known, Additional Commissioner of Police A.R. Anuradha said.
Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
Indeed. Someone has to actually tell you that the house is on fire ........ run!!!!VinodTK wrote:Column: An indigenous arms card.... Interesting readPrior to India’s Independence, the PM-in-waiting Pandit Nehru had asked a distinguished British scientist and later a Nobel laureate Sir Patrick Blackett as to how long will it take to ‘Indianise the military’, referring primarily to minimising India’s dependence on foreign equipment and secondarily to Indianise the military manpower structure (overwhelmingly dominated by the British nationals in the officer corps during the time). Sir Blackett answered that it could take 18 months in the short term and many decades in the long term for self-reliance in Indian defence!
Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
Even though it appears about R&D it really the whole process of indigenizing the military.VinodTK wrote:Column: An indigenous arms card
.... Interesting read
Prior to India’s Independence, the PM-in-waiting Pandit Nehru had asked a distinguished British scientist and later a Nobel laureate Sir Patrick Blackett as to how long will it take to ‘Indianise the military’, referring primarily to minimising India’s dependence on foreign equipment and secondarily to Indianise the military manpower structure (overwhelmingly dominated by the British nationals in the officer corps during the time). Sir Blackett answered that it could take 18 months in the short term and many decades in the long term for self-reliance in Indian defence! A similar question was asked in 1925 (where Motilal Nehru and Mohammad Ali Jinnah were members) to Sir Andrew Skeen who submitted a report to the then government (on the creation of a Military College in India), known as the Skeen Committee Report.
Decades of contemplation and action on the Indianisation process of the military have produced what at best can be termed ‘mixed results’. In between, India attained independence and of late flourishing in economic terms, Blackett enforced his ideas of production of previous generation weapons and non-investment in applied research or modern technologies, institutions were created and encouraged to work in silos, defence industries became ‘exclusive’ state controlled entities and defence scientific institutions led by brilliant scientists unfortunately became rigidly vertical institutions while the private industry has still been kept at a safe distance. In between also came some crazy ideas like ‘conversion’ led by Nehru confidant Menon who wanted to produce coffee percolators in ordnance factories!
Some attempts have been made to inject much needed reforms in India’s higher defence management sector in recent times. Institutions like Defence Acquisition Council, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, Joint Tri-Service Command and Strategic Forces Command have come up in the past few years while attempts at synergising the civil and military structures through Integrated Headquarters have also been undertaken. A decade of reforms, however, has brought very little desirable results as the Indian defence sector is still grappling with issues like joint-ness in the armed forces as well as intra-departmental coordination, rationalised budgeting, integrated planning, manpower and many other related areas.
Self-reliance in weapon manufacturing and defence technology development are the two critical areas where the Indianisation process has visibly failed. India’s arsenal is still largely filled with foreign equipment while its industrial and military technology bases have largely been found deficient. India has been able to create a huge defence scientific industrial base with 50 DRDO laboratories, 8 larger defence public sector units (DPSUs), 40 ordnance factories with more that 700 scientific and industrial collaborations with universities, specialised research institutions and private industries. Both DRDO and DPSUs are now corporatising their entities, thanks primarily to new initiatives taken by the government, while DRDO is reportedly undertaking reform initiatives as per the recommendations made by the P Rama Rao Committee. Among the notable achievements by DRDO and production agencies are indigenised technologies like ballistic sciences, aerospace engineering, avionics, heavy engineering, propulsion engineering, marine engineering and life sciences, among others. Still, India’s arms import dependency is alarmingly high and its scientific prowess in defence much below global standards.
Six points are flagged here to explain the existing status of Indian defence science technology and industrial base. First, the idea of Indianisation of the military has not been translated into concrete action plans flowing from a stated policy. Hence the need for formulating a national policy on defence scientific and industrial base. Second, defence science & technology and industry suffer from the problem of integration as they have been operating as independent entities. While DRDO is the technology innovator, its interaction with government production agencies (DPSUs) is at best symbolic while with the private industry is non-existent. Third, private industry is supposed to be a locomotive of self-reliance in defence, yet it is structurally situated outside the relevant department. The secretary of the Department of Defence Production does not have a dedicated wing under his command to examine issues related to private industries. Fourth, a trust deficit and sceptical mindsets typify the attitude of the government towards the private sector’s abilities to produce state-of-the-art military equipment. The number of ‘make’ projects (defence projects undertaken by the Indian private sector) constitute less than 5% of the total procurement projects awarded by the MoD to the private sector in the last three years! Fifth, both DRDO and production agencies suffer from a ‘concocted’ model of project management—not been able to prioritise ‘strategic’ from the rest. Almost a third of DRDO laboratories are engaged in ‘non-strategic’ scientific projects while HAL, instead of graduating itself to be a true systems integrator, is still engaged in bulky licence production projects. Last, but not the least, Indian spending on R&D (less than $2 bn) is one-fiftieth of that of the US ($96 bn) and one-fifteenth that of China ($32 bn). At a time when India flaunts its ‘arms card’ (enhanced financial muscle for acquiring weapons) to woo global arms suppliers, its attitude towards strengthening the indigenous R&D base has been pathetic.
Realism emphasises the centrality of state in global affairs and history gives enough evidence of possession of formidable ‘hard power’ by a few states in global politics. India’s Indianisation process of its hard power does not provide sufficient proof of an ascending power. It’s time that the state initiates a fresh multi-disciplinary debate on the ‘Indianisation of the military project’ in order to locate its position in global affairs.
The author is a senior fellow in security studies at the Observer Research Foundation. These are his personal views
Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
SAIL, Midhani ink pact to develop steel for defence.
Two state-owned firms -- SAIL and Midhani -- today signed a pact aimed at developing speciality steel products for use in defence and power sectors.
"Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and Mishra Dhatu Nigam (Midhani) shall achieve the goal of developing products indigenously that will act as 100 per cent substitutes for steel products currently being imported by the defence and power sectors," SAIL Chairman C S Verma said here.
Under the agreement, the two firms would set up a joint task force team (TFT) to identify special steel products which could be jointly developed by utilising Research & Development facilities of both, based on assessment of market demand and subject to techno-economic viability and commercial prudence.
The TFT, which would submit its findings within the next two months, would also devise a plan for optimum utilisation of facilities at SAIL and Midhani, a PSU under the ministry of defence, for production of quality and special steel products.
"Identification of areas for joint investment and collaboration for production of special steel is also included in the scope of MoU," the statement said.
Midhani's product range includes super-alloys, titanium, special steels, forged rounds, wires, strips, rings and titanium tubes. Defence and space sectors are among the major customers of Midhani.
Two state-owned firms -- SAIL and Midhani -- today signed a pact aimed at developing speciality steel products for use in defence and power sectors.
"Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and Mishra Dhatu Nigam (Midhani) shall achieve the goal of developing products indigenously that will act as 100 per cent substitutes for steel products currently being imported by the defence and power sectors," SAIL Chairman C S Verma said here.
Under the agreement, the two firms would set up a joint task force team (TFT) to identify special steel products which could be jointly developed by utilising Research & Development facilities of both, based on assessment of market demand and subject to techno-economic viability and commercial prudence.
The TFT, which would submit its findings within the next two months, would also devise a plan for optimum utilisation of facilities at SAIL and Midhani, a PSU under the ministry of defence, for production of quality and special steel products.
"Identification of areas for joint investment and collaboration for production of special steel is also included in the scope of MoU," the statement said.
Midhani's product range includes super-alloys, titanium, special steels, forged rounds, wires, strips, rings and titanium tubes. Defence and space sectors are among the major customers of Midhani.
Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
What took them so long to come to terms with this requirement?
Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
From FrontierIndia
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/news ... wsid=14892
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/news ... wsid=14892
The integrated thermally regulated shelters to provide protection to the soldiers against extreme climatic condition of the Himalayan regions, were dedicated by Dr. Vijay Kumar Saraswat, SA to RM, Secy Defence R& D and DG, DRDO to the HQ 14 Corps in Leh, Ladakh on 15th June 2011. Dr. Saraswat handed over these shelters to Lt Gen Ravi Dastane, VSM, GOC, HQ 14 Corps in the presence of Dr. W Selvamurthy, Distinguished Scientist &; Chief Controller R&D (Life Sciences &; International Cooperation) and other senior officers from Army and DRDO HQrs. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Saraswat thanked the GOC 14 Corps for his whole-hearted support to DRDO, particularly DIHAR.
...snip..
These shelters designed and developed by DRDO, are equipped with integrated temperature regulators, biodigestors and air monitoring systems. The shelter design is modular and all the services like HVAC, electrical, plumbing and water supply, sewage disposal, kerosene gensets and solar power are well integrated within the shelter. The shelter have been designed to withstand seismic activities upto a level of zone 5, wind velocities upto 55 m/sec and sub zero temperature upto minus 35 degree Celsius. The carbon dioxide level inside the shelter is closely monitored and maintained within the safe limits.
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Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
Shiv, a seperate article is being edited by Cheenum for the shelters and Army's challenges in Leh. May be by tomorrow morning. Some really good info there.shiv wrote:From FrontierIndia
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/news ... wsid=14892The integrated thermally regulated shelters to provide protection to the soldiers against extreme climatic condition of the Himalayan regions, were dedicated by Dr. Vijay Kumar Saraswat, SA to RM, Secy Defence R& D and DG, DRDO to the HQ 14 Corps in Leh, Ladakh on 15th June 2011. Dr. Saraswat handed over these shelters to.....ve been designed to withstand seismic activities upto a level of zone 5, wind velocities upto 55 m/sec and sub zero temperature upto minus 35 degree Celsius. The carbon dioxide level inside the shelter is closely monitored and maintained within the safe limits.
Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
wondering if such a modular facility could be scaled down for a mobile unit. It would really good for our forces!
Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
http://www.drdo.gov.in/drdo/pub/techfoc ... il2011.pdf
there is a treasure trove of info in the DRDO tech focus issue from April 2011. the length and breadth of DRDO's efforts in materials science is enormous. it seems DRDO is very good at basic science. a reorganization which demarcates the basic science efforts into separate operational units would probably be a good thing to boost basic research which can then be separately analyzed and utilized as required by the applied groups in govt labs and/or private sector.
there is a treasure trove of info in the DRDO tech focus issue from April 2011. the length and breadth of DRDO's efforts in materials science is enormous. it seems DRDO is very good at basic science. a reorganization which demarcates the basic science efforts into separate operational units would probably be a good thing to boost basic research which can then be separately analyzed and utilized as required by the applied groups in govt labs and/or private sector.
Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
Hindustan Aeronautics plans four new manufacturing plants.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has plans to set up four manufacturing plants for the production of medium multi-role combat aircraft, light utility helicopter, fifth generation fighter aircraft and multi-role transport aircraft, a senior company official said today.
HAL Director (Design & Development), N C Agarwal, said the Bangalore-headquartered company, under the Ministry of Defence , is looking to set up a new complex for MMRCA.
Government is to buy 18 aircraft under the MMRCA programme from a foreign manufacturer, with the remaining 108 to be produced by HAL under licence.
He said the HAL is scouting for a location for manufacture of light utility helicopter (LUH), and once it's identified, government approval would be sought.
Separate factories have also been proposed for fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) and multi-role transport aircraft he said, adding, as per initial plans, MTA would be manufactured in Kanpur and FGFA in Nasik.
Agarwal said work has started on the preliminary design of FGFA. "Russian team is here (in Bangalore) to train our people", he told PTI.
FGFA is a USD six billion project, to be equally shared by India and Russia.
FGFA would have advanced features such as stealth, super cruise, ultra-manoeuvrability, highly integrated avionics suite, enhanced situational awareness, internal carriage of weapons and network centric warfare capabilities, officials said.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has plans to set up four manufacturing plants for the production of medium multi-role combat aircraft, light utility helicopter, fifth generation fighter aircraft and multi-role transport aircraft, a senior company official said today.
HAL Director (Design & Development), N C Agarwal, said the Bangalore-headquartered company, under the Ministry of Defence , is looking to set up a new complex for MMRCA.
Government is to buy 18 aircraft under the MMRCA programme from a foreign manufacturer, with the remaining 108 to be produced by HAL under licence.
He said the HAL is scouting for a location for manufacture of light utility helicopter (LUH), and once it's identified, government approval would be sought.
Separate factories have also been proposed for fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) and multi-role transport aircraft he said, adding, as per initial plans, MTA would be manufactured in Kanpur and FGFA in Nasik.
Agarwal said work has started on the preliminary design of FGFA. "Russian team is here (in Bangalore) to train our people", he told PTI.
FGFA is a USD six billion project, to be equally shared by India and Russia.
FGFA would have advanced features such as stealth, super cruise, ultra-manoeuvrability, highly integrated avionics suite, enhanced situational awareness, internal carriage of weapons and network centric warfare capabilities, officials said.
Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
India well prepared for EW: PV NAIK
http://videos.sify.com/India-well-prepa ... jcbcb.html
PV Naik:
"As far as EW is concerned, hamne kaafi tarakki kar li hain. Koi aisi systems aap ko dega nahin. Aur dega to iski khoobiyaan, they will not share with you. In Electronic Warfare, indigenous development bahut acche tareeke se chal rahee hain."
English translation:
"As far as EW is concerned, we have made quite a lot of progress. Nobody will give you such systems, and if they do, they will not share the specifics. In Electronic Warfae, indigenous development is progressing very well."
http://videos.sify.com/India-well-prepa ... jcbcb.html
PV Naik:
"As far as EW is concerned, hamne kaafi tarakki kar li hain. Koi aisi systems aap ko dega nahin. Aur dega to iski khoobiyaan, they will not share with you. In Electronic Warfare, indigenous development bahut acche tareeke se chal rahee hain."
English translation:
"As far as EW is concerned, we have made quite a lot of progress. Nobody will give you such systems, and if they do, they will not share the specifics. In Electronic Warfae, indigenous development is progressing very well."
Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
Why not slowly HAL take up regulatory and integration role rather everything on its plate? Have private participation perhaps mandated by DPP, where gov policy could say, 80% of HAL jobs must be held by contracting companies, while HAL can take up the niche 20% jobs where it is known for best. This way, we can look for a longer term benefits, and remove those negative overhead HAL is carrying.
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Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
Talking of Nirbhay, does anyone have a clue about its test firing? The DRDO had announced in 2007 that it will be test fired in 2009, if that schedule is to be believed, they are lagging by almost two years.
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Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
my pleasure... Your article was very detailed and I just added my 2 bit...chackojoseph wrote:Thanks to Cheenum for all the help
Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
Micro Air Vehicle Aerodynamic Research Tunnel
Dr. A.R. Upadhya, Director, CSIR-NAL laid the foundation stone for the Micro Air Vehicle Aerodynamic Research Tunnel (MART) at NWTC campus.
The low Reynolds number regime is significant in that it projects a fundamental shift in physical behavior at MAV scales and speeds - an environment more common to the smallest birds and the largest insects. Basic understanding of the aerodynamics encountered here is very much limited. Neither the range, payload and performance of Bees & Wasps, nor the agility of the Dragon fly is predictable with established high-Reynolds number aerodynamics traditionally used in aircraft aerodynamic design.
The laminar and transitional nature of the flow, the propulsive induced flow on larger part of the wing, the aerodynamic behavior due to the flexibility in the wing, effect of unsteady aerodynamics in the case of flapping wing are some of the aspects to be studied in the wind tunnel.
MART would address all the aerodynamics, propulsion and aero elastic issues using advanced investigating tools like low-load force balances, MEMs-based pressure and shear sensors, optical flow diagnostics (LDV,PIV,VIC,V3V) etc. The open jet type test section would provide the advantage of studies related to flapping and rotary wings. The gust generation mechanism would help in studying stability and aero elasticity issues in MAVs.
The following areas are the proposed research areas in this wind tunnel - Low Reynolds number flows, Laminar Separation bubble, Flexible wings, Propulsive induced flows, Propeller characterization, Unsteady aerodynamics, Gust response, Control surface effectiveness, Flow Control.
After this event, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Dr. V. J. Sundaram, Advisor, Micro and Nano System formally inaugurated the new MAV Work Centre – 1 at NWTC campus. The dignitaries & invitees were taken around and shown the various activities planned in this work center. The MAVs designed and developed as a part of NAL-ADE project on Fixed Wing MAV were shown. Various others research & development activities like the two-kg class mini UAVs, pulse jet engine, hotwire foam cutting CNC machine, wind tunnel MAV models, 2D airfoil smoke flow visualization in the 0.2mx0.2m research tunnel, flapping wing static demonstration, propeller characterization test rig, flight simulator, three axis Motion simulator, MEMS evaluation board, inertial measurement unit were explained and demonstrated to the dignitaries. Real time video from a high resolution camera mounted on a Hex-rotor UAV was demonstrated as part of the event.
The event was concluded by some nostalgic remarks from Gen. Sundaram on the genesis of MAV program and its present status. He also told that the MAV program has reached the current height in India because of the participation of NAL in the key milestone events at MAV-08 held in Agra and INDUS MAV at Bangalore. Dr. A. R. Upadhya appreciated the entire effort put by the NAL team on the MAV program over the years and stressed on the development of indigenous technology for the future Nano Air Vehicle program.
The program ended with a vote of thanks by Dr. G. Ramesh.
Dr. A.R. Upadhya, Director, CSIR-NAL laid the foundation stone for the Micro Air Vehicle Aerodynamic Research Tunnel (MART) at NWTC campus.
The low Reynolds number regime is significant in that it projects a fundamental shift in physical behavior at MAV scales and speeds - an environment more common to the smallest birds and the largest insects. Basic understanding of the aerodynamics encountered here is very much limited. Neither the range, payload and performance of Bees & Wasps, nor the agility of the Dragon fly is predictable with established high-Reynolds number aerodynamics traditionally used in aircraft aerodynamic design.
The laminar and transitional nature of the flow, the propulsive induced flow on larger part of the wing, the aerodynamic behavior due to the flexibility in the wing, effect of unsteady aerodynamics in the case of flapping wing are some of the aspects to be studied in the wind tunnel.
MART would address all the aerodynamics, propulsion and aero elastic issues using advanced investigating tools like low-load force balances, MEMs-based pressure and shear sensors, optical flow diagnostics (LDV,PIV,VIC,V3V) etc. The open jet type test section would provide the advantage of studies related to flapping and rotary wings. The gust generation mechanism would help in studying stability and aero elasticity issues in MAVs.
The following areas are the proposed research areas in this wind tunnel - Low Reynolds number flows, Laminar Separation bubble, Flexible wings, Propulsive induced flows, Propeller characterization, Unsteady aerodynamics, Gust response, Control surface effectiveness, Flow Control.
After this event, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Dr. V. J. Sundaram, Advisor, Micro and Nano System formally inaugurated the new MAV Work Centre – 1 at NWTC campus. The dignitaries & invitees were taken around and shown the various activities planned in this work center. The MAVs designed and developed as a part of NAL-ADE project on Fixed Wing MAV were shown. Various others research & development activities like the two-kg class mini UAVs, pulse jet engine, hotwire foam cutting CNC machine, wind tunnel MAV models, 2D airfoil smoke flow visualization in the 0.2mx0.2m research tunnel, flapping wing static demonstration, propeller characterization test rig, flight simulator, three axis Motion simulator, MEMS evaluation board, inertial measurement unit were explained and demonstrated to the dignitaries. Real time video from a high resolution camera mounted on a Hex-rotor UAV was demonstrated as part of the event.
The event was concluded by some nostalgic remarks from Gen. Sundaram on the genesis of MAV program and its present status. He also told that the MAV program has reached the current height in India because of the participation of NAL in the key milestone events at MAV-08 held in Agra and INDUS MAV at Bangalore. Dr. A. R. Upadhya appreciated the entire effort put by the NAL team on the MAV program over the years and stressed on the development of indigenous technology for the future Nano Air Vehicle program.
The program ended with a vote of thanks by Dr. G. Ramesh.
Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
^^^ great info. Thanks
Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
Mahindra Aerospace scouts for tech partner
Rajiv Chib, associate director of aerospace and aviation at consultant PricewaterhouseCoopers, said given the long-drawn qualification process and certifications involved in the manufacture of aircraft parts, the gestation period for an Indian firm without US or European collaboration could be as long as eight years. “With a technology partner, the lead time can be cut to two to three years.”
Mahindra Aerospace has outlined an investment of Rs.230 crore for the Bangalore factory, which will make components to be supplied to global aircraft manufacturers as well as Mahindra’s own aircraft manufacturing business.
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Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
DRDO tests self-sustaining and energy efficient shelter for soldiers at Siachen Glacier
another of FI exclusive. Thanks to ravishankar @ BRF. He did the sub.
another of FI exclusive. Thanks to ravishankar @ BRF. He did the sub.
Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
Chacko, I am thinking of having a dedicated thread for your news reports. Let me know if its viable.
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Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
Yes, please, if you can and if others don't mind.
Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
Can these they be broken down, transported by helicopters to high alt bases and finally assembled there easily by jawans?chackojoseph wrote:DRDO tests self-sustaining and energy efficient shelter for soldiers at Siachen Glacier
another of FI exclusive. Thanks to ravishankar @ BRF. He did the sub.
Thanks
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Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
^^^ Its already small units and all these can be assembled / set up. They are testing it for user feedback.
Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
^^
This is a very good news.
This is a very good news.

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Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
Ramana, Can we also links to all old articles (maybe grouped based on topics) in this thread like an archive.ramana wrote:Chacko, I am thinking of having a dedicated thread for your news reports. Let me know if its viable.
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Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
BEML and Alenia Aeronautica sign MoU to develop Basic Trainer aircraft.
State-owned BEML Ltd which focuses on the defence sector has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Italian aerospace major Alenia Aeronautica to design, manufacture and sell a basic trainer aircraft, the Bangalore-based company said on Thursday.
The proposed aircraft could also be offered to the IAF as a replacement for its current basic trainer, the HPT-32 Deepak, according to a statement by the company.
The MoU signed by BEML Chairman and Managing Director V RS Natarajan and Allesandro Franzoni, chief operating officer, Aelina Aeronautica, envisages a "mutual collaboration for designing, manufacturing and selling a new primary/basic training aircraft on a New Generation Screener," according to the press release.
Earlier this month, Air Chief Marshal PV Naik announced that Swiss aviation company Pilatu, through its offering PC-7, had emerged as the lowest bidder in the IAF's Basic Trainer competition, which calls for the procurement of 75 aircrafts, a deal estimated at about $1-billion. Separately, defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd has been given the order to design and manufacture a further 106 aircrafts.
The IAF's entire fleet of basic trainers, HPT-32 Deepak has been grounded since 2009, following the death of almost 20 pilots in recent times.
State-owned BEML Ltd which focuses on the defence sector has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Italian aerospace major Alenia Aeronautica to design, manufacture and sell a basic trainer aircraft, the Bangalore-based company said on Thursday.
The proposed aircraft could also be offered to the IAF as a replacement for its current basic trainer, the HPT-32 Deepak, according to a statement by the company.
The MoU signed by BEML Chairman and Managing Director V RS Natarajan and Allesandro Franzoni, chief operating officer, Aelina Aeronautica, envisages a "mutual collaboration for designing, manufacturing and selling a new primary/basic training aircraft on a New Generation Screener," according to the press release.
Earlier this month, Air Chief Marshal PV Naik announced that Swiss aviation company Pilatu, through its offering PC-7, had emerged as the lowest bidder in the IAF's Basic Trainer competition, which calls for the procurement of 75 aircrafts, a deal estimated at about $1-billion. Separately, defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd has been given the order to design and manufacture a further 106 aircrafts.
The IAF's entire fleet of basic trainers, HPT-32 Deepak has been grounded since 2009, following the death of almost 20 pilots in recent times.
Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
IAF seeks direct control of HAL to stem eroding combat-edge
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 969369.cms
Not sure if the development is good or bad news.. Reflects no-confidence from IAF on current HAL capacity to deliver. Would a producer-cum-consumer IAF be any better?
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 969369.cms
Not sure if the development is good or bad news.. Reflects no-confidence from IAF on current HAL capacity to deliver. Would a producer-cum-consumer IAF be any better?
Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
^^^
I think fundamentally what they are trying to do is add some competitive edge to HAL. the bureaucracy will always remain. but at the same time if you add a competitive philosophy, the bureaucracy will adjust. those who set the agenda for HAL should be military or business minded guys. right now, it's neither. and IAF directly setting the goals and objective and running them is a good thing. it will make HAL more competitive.
I think fundamentally what they are trying to do is add some competitive edge to HAL. the bureaucracy will always remain. but at the same time if you add a competitive philosophy, the bureaucracy will adjust. those who set the agenda for HAL should be military or business minded guys. right now, it's neither. and IAF directly setting the goals and objective and running them is a good thing. it will make HAL more competitive.
Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
^^ Right to an extent. Competitive edge, and management philosophies come from hiring right people - whether from IAF or not. IAF background will not guarantee that HAL will achieve cutting edge in manufacturing practices or R&D.
Would not the Dassaults and EADs hesitate to sell to IAF - who also has a manufacturing, technology and design base?
Would not the Dassaults and EADs hesitate to sell to IAF - who also has a manufacturing, technology and design base?
Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
that is a non issue. these countries don't have the luxury to pick and choose. they'll GUBO to get whatever they can. that is the reality. and if IAF managed HAL becomes a much better organization, we won't need these Dassaults and EADS's for much longer.Would not the Dassaults and EADs hesitate to sell to IAF - who also has a manufacturing, technology and design base?
Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
Well, that's exactly why they need to delay or deter IAF (their, sometimes, single major customer) from becoming independent or eventually compete with them. All said and done, we still lack critical technology manufacturing capabilities (Kaveri is one example).
Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
^^ Kaveri is actually good example of how not allowing private companies in R&D hurts.
In West, all of best R&D happens in private labs. DRDO has done a great job, but if you want speed in R&D and teeth in production, there is no other alternative here. DRDO or PSU simply can't beat private companies in terms of work-force motivation and incentives to attract best talent, and rapidness of hiring the best. This is a crude fact(no offence to DRDO here).
I am recommending both R&D as well as production in Private hands. Magic will happen in just 15 years! But bloody allow it!!
In West, all of best R&D happens in private labs. DRDO has done a great job, but if you want speed in R&D and teeth in production, there is no other alternative here. DRDO or PSU simply can't beat private companies in terms of work-force motivation and incentives to attract best talent, and rapidness of hiring the best. This is a crude fact(no offence to DRDO here).
I am recommending both R&D as well as production in Private hands. Magic will happen in just 15 years! But bloody allow it!!
Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
How would a private hand have helped Kaveri? I get the talent attraction and retention part. But that is a general thing. So I am curious as to why Kaveri in particular is a good example?raajneesh wrote:^^ Kaveri is actually good example of how not allowing private companies in R&D hurts.
Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
Assuming talent exists in 1billion pool, normally these talents and expertise goes after money where private enterprise pay better salary scale to retain talent. now, coming to precision engineering.. it is important hows and whats (process and engineering) more than who does it (brains/inputs to process .. still important).. we have no data here in our country to prove and define, but if one may borrow the statistical data from any advanced country of reference, one could get enough data that private enterprise deliver goods within a reasonable set time.
Better engineering and management, capability , & maturity, and a lot more decides about Kaveri or similar products. Take GE or P&W or Snecma for example.
Now, I am not saying it is right for us to follow that path.. no we have data to prove that gov institutions are utter failure.. though one can definitely find mismanagement. If time goes by extending project deadlines say more than 10-30%, then it is high time, that they rethink on engineering & organization strategies.
So, if one look at fish bone, the direction is clear that private institutions would deliver given time and money. Gov institutions deliver given nothing but specifications.. in the sense, they are not run by time or money conscious programs.
Unfortunate, that gov policies are not easy to change on salary and budgets and investments.. and these are easily managed and raised from private sectors.. where even the VC run would have vested interests in getting the job done.
these are not only the points.. but some thing to consider at higher levels of thoughts for national programs of darn importance.
Better engineering and management, capability , & maturity, and a lot more decides about Kaveri or similar products. Take GE or P&W or Snecma for example.
Now, I am not saying it is right for us to follow that path.. no we have data to prove that gov institutions are utter failure.. though one can definitely find mismanagement. If time goes by extending project deadlines say more than 10-30%, then it is high time, that they rethink on engineering & organization strategies.
So, if one look at fish bone, the direction is clear that private institutions would deliver given time and money. Gov institutions deliver given nothing but specifications.. in the sense, they are not run by time or money conscious programs.
Unfortunate, that gov policies are not easy to change on salary and budgets and investments.. and these are easily managed and raised from private sectors.. where even the VC run would have vested interests in getting the job done.
these are not only the points.. but some thing to consider at higher levels of thoughts for national programs of darn importance.
Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
SaiK we are heading way waaay off topic here. The above conclusion is not necessarily right. "Talent" in India often goes towards profiteering and hoodwinking the next guy so that the money is made but society does not have to be given and technology, tools of gyan in return. One needs a dedicated meritocracy for that. The meaning of meritocracy again is misunderstood. For meritocracy to succeed there have to be laws and the laws themselves need to be powerfully and forcefully upheld by meritorious law makers. Laws for a meritocracy cannot work if the laws are bent by talented scamsters.SaiK wrote:Assuming talent exists in 1billion pool, normally these talents and expertise goes after money where private enterprise pay better salary scale to retain talent. now, coming to precision engineering
The same Indians who go and become inventive in the US praise the meritocracy in the US imagining that talent is absent in India. In India it is easier to make your money without showing the sort of talent that is valued in the US- as long as you have talent in making money. After 30 years the man who runs scams in India is more wealthy than the meritorious Indian in America.
The age old Indian virtues of going for what is right rather than what earns you money holds true for India. In the USA they have made it easier to translate "right/dharma" into "money". that is not true in India. That is why you find that people working on projects like LCA or ISRO are often not doing it for the money and refuse offers to go abroad.
Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
Shiv ji, you have just brought the core problem out.. I would like everyone to vote on this, and feel and understand these issues. Perhaps that itself is the first beginning of a change towards dharmic value system.
It would be hard for me to disbelieve that whatever we have put ourselves in desh, is an anomaly and not something that in our inner cores wanted to do. We can come up with various terms to this core issue, but the actuality remains evident.
It may be a revolutionary thought, but I want you to take the credit and create a historic event. It doesn't matter how many may fall in this line, but it does matter to begin the correction process.
/ot/sorry
It would be hard for me to disbelieve that whatever we have put ourselves in desh, is an anomaly and not something that in our inner cores wanted to do. We can come up with various terms to this core issue, but the actuality remains evident.
It may be a revolutionary thought, but I want you to take the credit and create a historic event. It doesn't matter how many may fall in this line, but it does matter to begin the correction process.
/ot/sorry
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Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
Ultimately its not about private/public. Actually in the US most of the research gets done by a incestuous nexus of govt. funding, "private" unis and industry. All 3 sleep with each other and get things done.
There's no reason public sector companies can't do well in defense research & development. What is missing is proper project management and incentive structures. When people say "privatize" what they really want is "make it results-oriented and bring in proper incentives". Aka just get the job done. A third factor which does come from some private sector participation is competition and that should also be welcomed. PSU's should not present a full monopoly.
There's no reason public sector companies can't do well in defense research & development. What is missing is proper project management and incentive structures. When people say "privatize" what they really want is "make it results-oriented and bring in proper incentives". Aka just get the job done. A third factor which does come from some private sector participation is competition and that should also be welcomed. PSU's should not present a full monopoly.