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

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 23 Jun 2010 21:39

chetak wrote:Not without the very tight control of the IN.

Tomorrow they will start off on nuclear research!!

This DRDO head guy seems to have a penchant for stepping on numerous toes.

Wrong. The work on fuel cells & other technologies precedes the Navy's requirement for similar tech & the work on AIP is based on Naval requirements.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 23 Jun 2010 21:40

Sanku wrote:Yes Sir D Roy Sir, and this otherwise respected jorunalist has been going down the path of being less than respected with some quotes from unnamed sources that he has been liberally dishing out which tarnish the Indian strength in various areas.

For a while it was about IA and the DRDO lobby (which does not mean pro-DRDO btw, I am pro DRDO) cheered him on BRF, then he tried his hatchet job with IAF and Il 76 factoids (made up data) which was cheered by pro buy-US and now this.

I think it is time we start catching on to his "respect" game.

What game, which game. He got conned by a publicity hound seeking wide publicity for a PR piece, assigning it credibility like many other journalists. One swallow does not spring bring, lets not get into conspiracy theories.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 23 Jun 2010 22:04

India has communicated to Germany that at present there is no change in the policy of raising the cap on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from 26 per cent in the defence sector.

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/ ... 452171.ece

As expected.

Wonder if EADSs ambitious plans will still go ahead if the EF is not selected.

shukla · Post by **shukla** » 24 Jun 2010 11:02

Karan M wrote:Wonder if EADSs ambitious plans will still go ahead if the EF is not selected.

Thats the concern isn't it? Though they have been crying hoarse that this is completely unrelated and they are just looking for "cheap labour"... or they come here, create 20000 jobs and threaten to pull out if not selected.. verycunning move by them...

Sanku · Post by **Sanku** » 24 Jun 2010 11:57

Karan M wrote: What game, which game. He got conned by a publicity hound seeking wide publicity for a PR piece, assigning it credibility like many other journalists. One swallow does not spring bring, lets not get into conspiracy theories.

Col Ajay Shukla, a 40-50 year old man, a respected journalist who has been writing for 10 years now, got CONNED by a random website

I have a white building for sale, cheap, excellent location, slightly faded marble due to age. Please send mail <> here for where to send a cheque for participating in draw of lots.....

Surya · Post by **Surya** » 24 Jun 2010 13:18

Shukla writes 4 good pieces and then damages his rep with some absurd reporting. The idiots at Rediff I understand but shukla??

what next one of those maharishi followers who send emails about how to use transcendental meditiation for controlling terrorism.

Sanku · Post by **Sanku** » 24 Jun 2010 14:26

Surya Sir, there is always a pattern. The world is not a random place.

Craig Alpert · Post by **Craig Alpert** » 25 Jun 2010 07:48

Honeywell joins Indian body armor venture

MORRIS TOWNSHIP, N.J., June 22 (UPI) -- Indian paramilitary and police forces will soon be wearing body armor that uses Honeywell composite breast plates, the company announced.

Honeywell said the deal for its Spectra Shield and Gold Shield composite plates being incorporated into 56,000 jackets is part of a contract MKU Pvt Ltd received from India's Ministry of the Interior.

"Honeywell's Spectra and Gold Shield composite materials will play a key role in protecting the men and women who serve on India's police forces from the serious threats they face every day," said Phil Wojcik, head of Honeywell's Advanced Fibers and Composites business. "Our materials protect law enforcement officials, soldiers and their vehicles in combat zones around the world and we are proud to bring this technology to India."

Honeywell said the body armor, designed and made by MKU is intended to protect from small-arms fire.

Honeywell plates, the company said, offer protection from multiple bullet strikes, angle shots and high-velocity rounds.

"Today's police forces need stronger, lighter armor that can withstand a variety of threats," Neeraj Gupta, managing director of MKU, was quoted in the Honeywell release."Together with Honeywell, we're providing the Indian police with the latest generation products in personal armor technology."

MKUseems like a very bright company with R&D centers located in Noida, Dehradun, Kanpur and Germany!!! that manufacture, UAV's (which frankly I don't know why they don't purchase for Maosits related ops, or even for J&K, and other border regions!)

sunny y · Post by **sunny y** » 25 Jun 2010 13:16

Hindustan Times (Delhi Edition) has started a new 14 part series on the R&D efforts going on in the Indian industry. It is not always related to the defence sector. It comes on every friday...Last friday they provided a around 10 pages supplement.
Today they have written about DRDO lab LASTEC

Here is the link :
http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/Articl ... 008&mode=1

This is a must read...very very interesting stuff they are working on.

I am so happy

Some of us may have already known about it. But I came to know about it today, so I thought I should post it here.

Thanks

darshhan · Post by **darshhan** » 25 Jun 2010 15:31

This is not related to this thread but just to give you an inkling of how much China is going to spend on just one segment.Maybe Indian govt can learn something.

http://www.eetimes.com/rss/showArticle. ... =225701304

nithish · Post by **nithish** » 27 Jun 2010 03:31

M&M to invest $54m in aerospace

BANGALORE: Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), India’s biggest maker of sport-utility vehicles and tractors, plans to invest 2.5 billion rupees ($54 million) in its aerospace business as part of a push to expand into new markets.

“We are planning to invest 1.5 billion rupees for manufacturing components and roughly 1 billion rupees in manufacturing aircraft,” Vice Chairman Anand Mahindra said at a news conference in the southern Indian city of Bangalore.

The automaker entered the aerospace industry last year by purchasing majority stakes in Aerostaff Australia, a component manufacturer, and Gippsland Aeronautics, a maker of turboprop aircraft. It has also been in talks with Boeing Co. and Airbus SAS seeking orders for aviation components.

Mahindra said in a statement on Saturday it is in the final stages of setting up a plant. The company is spending $10 million to set up a facility in Bangalore to produce aircraft parts, Hemant Luthra, head of the company’s autoparts division, said in December.

Mahindra intends to bid for South Korea’s Ssangyong Motor Co. by July and is conducting due diligence, Mahindra also said on Saturday.

Pyeongtaek, South Korea-based Ssangyong, which entered bankruptcy protection in February 2009, offers buyers access to Asian and Russian markets, sale advisers Samjong KPMG Advisory Inc. and Macquarie Group Inc. said in a document sent to investors.

Mahindra said the group is open to inorganic opportunities to grow its aerospace business. “Clearly inorganic strategies are not out of our purview. It makes sense given our growth opportunities to look at inorganic ... but as of now we want to consolidate what we have acquired,” Mahindra said.

Last December, Mahindra along with India’s Kotak Private Equity bought majority stakes in two small Australian firms, aerospace component maker Aerostaff Australia and aircraft maker Gippsland Aeronautics. Mahindra said due diligence on the troubled Korean SUV maker Ssangyong Motor was on and the group will make a decision bidding for the company by July. Mahindra is competing with France’s Renault and four others to acquire Ssangyong.

“Right now we are in a due diligence phase. Once we have completed, we will make our decision whether to put in a bid. Sometime in July we will have to make a decision,” he said. Earlier this month, Ssangyong owned 10 per cent by China’s SAIC Motor Corp said it had shortlisted six out of seven firms that had submitted letters of intent to buy the carmaker, under a court-led restructuring since early 2009.

Gaurav_S · Post by **Gaurav_S** » 27 Jun 2010 13:09

Lighter, safer grenades for forces

CHANDIGARH:The defence services will soon be equipped with slimmer, lighter, safer and modulated grenades, which don't explode before time.

Deciding to gradually phase out the existing M-36 hand grenades, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) recently placed an order for 10 lakh newly-developed hand grenades for the Ordnance factory board. Developed by the Terminal Ballistic Research Lab of DRDO in Chandigarh, the multimode hand grenades would be replacing the archaic ones of the World War II vintage.
According to scientists, the advantage of these hand explosives would be that unlike the existing ones, which can accidentally explode without even the safety pin being removed, these have detachable parts and cannot go off on their own.

"The new design will overcome the safety defect in existing explosives, which explode much before time. Unlike the older version, this weapon can also be airdropped with precision," said Dr Satish Kumar, director of TBRL.

The missile, which has been tested in temperatures ranging between minus 20 degree Celsius and 55 degree Celsius during trials conducted at Kargil and Tangdhar and in hot dry conditions of Pokhran in Rajasthan, have been now approved for largescale manufacture. "Its modular and lightweight design translates into better operational preparedness as the soldier can carry more of these, use them according to combat conditions and airdrop them precisely on the enemy," Dr Kumar pointed out.

Another significant aspect of this new product is that the time delay for the explosion — time taken to go off after the pin is pulled out to activate —, is a mere three seconds. "The time factor has seldom been this precise in earlier designs, and led to explosions occurring much before time, resulting in casualities. The multimode overcomes this limitation," the director added.

"We are half-way to coming up with another version which has an electronic fuse and is lighter," he said. A similar model of grenades for paramilitary forces is also in the pipeline.

ToI

Craig Alpert · Post by **Craig Alpert** » 29 Jun 2010 05:21

Mahindra & Mahindra to Start Manufacturing RG-31 Mine Protected Vehicle

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) and UK’s BAE Systems will soon start manufacturing the RG-31 — a mine-proof vehicle — in the country for the Indian Army and police forces operating in Maoist strongholds. Sources in M&M, which has entered the defence automotive business, said the automobile major was also looking at producing the FH77 B05 Advanced Howitzer, already in use in the country. BAE Systems has supplied 165 mine-proof vehicles to the Indian Army and another 600 to the US, UN and Canadian forces.

The monocoque hull of the RG-31, made of welded armour steel, is supposed to protect occupants against anti-tank mines and has a modular interior layout. The vehicle can be configured as an armoured personnel carrier, ambulance and surveillance vehicle. The air-conditioned vehicle can carry up to 10 people. Maoists have often targeted police vehicles with mines planted deep inside highways and jungle tracks, which normal minesweepers fail to detect.

Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa and Bengal have been impacted by Maoist attacks. Though M&M officials have targeted the army as the principle buyer of the vehicle, the company will also chase possible orders from paramilitary forces as well as limited orders from state police forces, especially specialised anti-Maoist squads such as Andhra Pradesh’s Greyhound. “We are also looking at bringing in a battle tank for the army through our joint venture with BAE but bringing in restricted technology will be possible if we are able to offer them a 49 per cent stake in the venture,” M&M sources said.

At present, FDI rules allow foreign investors a 26 per cent stake in Indian defence. The M&M-BAE venture is complying with the norm. However, the commerce ministry has put forward a proposal to increase FDI in defence to 74 per cent, a move which domestic firms such as the Mahindras, L&T and the Tatas have opposed. They maintain that a 49 per cent stake will suffice to attract top firms in defence business and join Indian partners.

M&M has entered the lucrative defence automotive sector with Defence Land Systems Ltd — the joint venture with BAE — and the manufacturing of bullet-proof and customised vehicles. Among others, it makes the Rakshak, a bullet-proof Scorpio, and Marksman, a customised war vehicle. The joint venture is expected to make an initial investment of $21.25 million over three years. Defence Land Systems India will have a facility in Faridabad, just outside Delhi.

Kailash · Post by **Kailash** » 30 Jun 2010 12:42

Link

This refers to "DRDO policy gaffes attract international flak" by Ajai Shukla (June 22). It needs to be reiterated that DRDO has not announced any road map for military space programme. Also, it has no programme to develop anti-satellite weapons. Moreover, the document "Technology perspective and capability road map" has not been published by DRDO.

DRDO’s programmes are in tune with India’s no-first-use policy in terms of nuclear weapons and are aimed at providing effective deterrence, credible second strike capability and reliable defence against weapons aimed at undermining India’s security and integrity. Such defensive programmes are developed with a view to ensuring neutralisation of the enemy’s assets targeted at India.

Ravi Kumar Gupta, director of public interface, DRDO

karthik · Post by **karthik** » 30 Jun 2010 17:07

This outer cage would be very useful for vehicles in Riot hit areas, throw what ever stones you want or hit it with sticks and nothing happens to the vehicle! May be those gypsies need something like this RG-31 riot guard?

KiranM · Post by **KiranM** » 30 Jun 2010 17:15

^^^ That was not designed for protection from rioters. That is a contraption to prematurely trigger the tandem warheads in anti-tank weapons like RPGs.

karthik · Post by **karthik** » 30 Jun 2010 17:19

^^^ Doesn't work for riots?!!

KiranM · Post by **KiranM** » 30 Jun 2010 17:58

karthik wrote:^^^ Doesn't work for riots?!!

Not tested in that role. May be ship one to Kashmir now..

Surya · Post by **Surya** » 30 Jun 2010 19:24

Shukla instead of accepting that he screwed up by picking up a nobody who was trying to get attention by posting here, now goes on a rant against everyone in his comments section.

must be the lack of oxygen

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 30 Jun 2010 19:51

Surya , Mention that MH was trolling on BRF and posting nonsense articles.

Surya · Post by **Surya** » 30 Jun 2010 22:29

Ramana - I believe thats how Shukla even found out about MH

otherwise he would not be on anyones radar.

putnanja · Post by **putnanja** » 30 Jun 2010 22:48

ramana wrote:Surya , Mention that MH was trolling on BRF and posting nonsense articles.

This was mentioned by multiple people in the comments. Ajai Shukla still tried to justify his article. And looks like Ajai is also censoring comments even though they don't have any personal barbs if they try to pin him down with logical arguments

Prem Kumar · Post by **Prem Kumar** » 30 Jun 2010 22:55

ramana wrote:Surya , Mention that MH was trolling on BRF and posting nonsense articles.

Ramana: I already did. You can see my comments in his blog.

Ravi Kumar Gupta (director of public interface, DRDO) is correct. The "Technology perspective and capability roadmap" is an MOD publication, not a DRDO one. Time for Col. Shukla to eat crow for having re-posted a useless rant by MH without cross-checking.

Shukla's blog is like the curate's egg. Good posts intermingled with some awful ones.

Btw, the document does have the following quote

Development of ASAT for electronic or physical destruction of satellites in both LEO and Geo – synchronous orbits.

Paul · Post by **Paul** » 30 Jun 2010 23:00

Ajai Shukla is graduating into the big leagues...articles on his visit to Bidesh, Viriginia, NASA show his expanding interests.

He must be running into NPA and Pankaj Mishra types and realized the need to network to exchange inside info and become a known authority on Security issues for Asia. For access to these circles, he needs to write hatchet articles on India defence establishment...hence the DRDO job.

JMT....

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 01 Jul 2010 09:56

Chacko, How quickly can they productionize the LGB? Or is it another long range plan? Also whats the update on air launched Brahmos?

Craig Alpert · Post by **Craig Alpert** » 02 Jul 2010 03:18

Mahindra signs JV with UAE companies for vehicle armour

01 Jul 2010: Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. along with its subsidiary MOICML (Mahindra Overseas Investment Company Mauritius Ltd.), Arabia Holdings and Ras Al-Khaimah Transport Investments LLC have signed an agreement to create a joint venture company in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE for armouring of vehicles.

Mahindra & Mahindra, through its Division, Mahindra Defence Systems (MDS) has over the past six years acquired a leadership position in India in the field of vehicle armouring and brings to the Joint Venture its considerable experience in the design and development of ballistic kits for vehicle protection.

Arabia Holdings Ltd. has diverse business presence in the UAE in the business of transportation, logistics and real estate. They are based out of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah and bring with them their expertise in exporting armoured vehicles from the local markets together with its existing relationship with various agencies.

Ras-Al-Khaimah Transport Investments LLC has been established by the Ras-Al-Khaimah Transport Authority for partnering with Mahindra and Arabia in the Joint Venture. The Joint Venture will cater to the high potential markets of West and Central Asia as well as Africa. The JV would launch a number of MDS’ armoured vehicles such as the Marksman, the up armoured Scorpio, cash in transit van, etc which have been very successful in India. The JV is being set up in the UAE because of the low cost of manufacturing in the free zone of Ras Al-Khaimah and owing to its proximity to the GCC countries, African and Central Asian sub-continents ensuring easy access to these markets.

Sid · Post by **Sid** » 04 Jul 2010 12:31

IdeaForge/DRDO Netra UAV

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9-WvXsXa8M

I say a damn good product. GPS based micro UAV niceeee. But at 20+ Lakh per unit its price is a bit costly.

Nihat · Post by **Nihat** » 04 Jul 2010 13:35

yup , the thermal camera mode is particularly impressive - would be very useful for security forces employed in Kashmir as well as Naxal hit areas as it could help them to avoid as well as lay ambushes.

chackojoseph · Post by **chackojoseph** » 04 Jul 2010 15:47

ramana wrote:Chacko, How quickly can they productionize the LGB? Or is it another long range plan? Also whats the update on air launched Brahmos?

Its a industry participated venture. It can have LSP in case of emergency. otherwise trials are expected to be held year long for atmospheric conditions. The user has not indicated if they want longer or shorter ones, hence, its premature to tell.

I do not have an update on the Air Launched Brahmos.

sunny y · Post by **sunny y** » 04 Jul 2010 17:19

Green toilets on trains soon

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/ ... s-soon-577

All long-distance trains of the country will soon have safe and environment-friendly ‘green’ toilets designed and developed by scientists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The major attraction of this toilet will be its cozy nature. “This is a toilet that people would like to enjoy,” a senior DRDO scientist told Deccan Chronicle.

The green toilet is based on bio-digester technology. “We will deploy a consortium of bacteria from Antarctica which have been brought down to India by our team of scientists. These bacteria, known as inoculums, are bio-digesters which eat up all pathogenic bacteria in the faecal material. They will also neutralise the organisms causing the smell,” said Dr G. Ilavazhagan, director, Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, New Delhi.

According to Dr Ilavazhagan, the inoculum-treated material would not cause any harm to human beings or the environment. “The treated material could be discharged into the track itself. Once the pathogenic bacteria are destroyed, there is nothing to fear,” he said.

At the moment, more than 200 coaches in different trains plying across the country have green toilets. According to a higher official of Southern Railway mechanical department, two trains, Chennai-Alleppey express and Chennai-Trivandrum express, have one green toilet each installed on a trial basis. “The toilets were installed on May 17 and have been functioning without any problems,” the official said.

Craig Alpert · Post by **Craig Alpert** » 04 Jul 2010 17:34

Sid wrote:IdeaForge/DRDO Netra UAV

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9-WvXsXa8M

I say a damn good product. GPS based micro UAV niceeee. But at 20+ Lakh per unit its price is a bit costly.

YES!!! All they have to do now is to have it RUGGEDIZED, (i.e. make it rain/snow/sleet/dust proof) IT HAS TO BE AN ALL WEATHER model and glad to see that they are working on it... Furthermore, they should have it's range extended from the 200 meters to 500 meters and from 30 minutes to atleast 2 hrs...

The cost is justified as it comes with OTHER accessories such as Panasonic Toughbooks, Thermal Cameras all this stuff is IMPORTED, hence the cost is definitely going to be to the right....

shukla · Post by **shukla** » 07 Jul 2010 13:57

HAL-CAE See Robust Simulation Market in India

Interview with Chris Stellwag, Spokesperson of CAE (8ak)

8ak: Is Hatsoff planning any military simulators for India?

Stellwag: HATSOFF will, in fact, have a military helicopter simulator. One of the four cockpits already planned for the HATSOFF simulator, which features CAE's revolutionary roll-on/roll-out cockpit technology, will be for the Indian Army/Air Force variant of the Dhruv helicopter. The other three cockpits planned at HATSOFF are the Bell 412, Eurocopter Dauphin, and civil variant of the Dhruv.

8ak: Rumours are that the armed forces are reluctant to outsource training even to a HAL company.

Stellwag: HAL and CAE are confident that both the Indian Army and Indian Air Force will see the tremendous benefits and advantages to Dhruv simulator training at HATSOFF. Militaries around the world utilize various forms of contractor-operated training services. A perfect example is the CAE owned and operated Medium Support Helicopter Aircrew Training Facility (MSHATF) at Royal Air Force Base Benson in the UK, where CAE delivers comprehensive training to operators of Chinook, Merlin, and Puma helicopters.

8ak: What is the market for military simulators in India?

Stellwag: Simulation offers a number of advantages that address an ever-increasing global threat level and new economic constraints that are pressuring top-line defence spending. The cost savings from the use of modelling and simulation is considerable. The cost of fuel, detrimental environmental impacts, and significant wear and tear on weapon systems all point to the greater use of simulation and synthetic training.

Equally important as a market driver, the current state of simulation is so highly realistic that it has become an integral tool for mission preparation and rehearsal. India's defence forces are in a perfect position to extend their use of simulation to help ensure the readiness of India's defence forces as they face new and changing threats. For these reasons, we see a robust market in India for simulation.

8ak: What other military acquisitions will have CAE simulators?

Stellwag: It is premature to speculate on acquisition programs that India is considering that would have CAE simulators. However, India is considering several platforms where CAE has significant experience and expertise. CAE is already under contract to design and manufacture a C-130J full-mission simulator for the Indian Air Force as part of India's acquisition of C-130J aircraft, and this program is progressing well.

India is also considering platforms such as the P-8A Poseidon and MH-60R Romeo helicopter. CAE has actually developed the prototype P-8A simulator for the US Navy under subcontract to Boeing, and CAE is the US Navy's prime contractor responsible for both flight and rear-crew trainers for the MH-60R helicopter.

shukla · Post by **shukla** » 08 Jul 2010 17:31

Tata Advanced System (TASL) in joint venture with Lockheed

TASL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Sons, has sought the government’s approval for the joint venture in which Lockheed will have a 26% stake through a subsidiary while the Indian partner will hold the rest. The new company, Tata Aerostructures Ltd, will design, develop and manufacture aerospace and aerostructure products.

The proposal submitted by TASL to the Foreign Investment Promotion Board, or FIPB, says Lockheed Martin’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Lockheed Martin Aeroframe Corporation (LMAC), will invest Rs 42.82 crore into the proposed venture for the 26% stake. The Indian partner will bring in Rs 121.87 crore in the venture that is also looking to export advanced technology systems to other countries.

There is an export potential of $200 million (Rs 920 crore) over a period of five years, the Tata group said in its proposal. Currently, foreign direct investment in defence sector is capped at 26% requiring prior government approval.

Craig Alpert · Post by **Craig Alpert** » 09 Jul 2010 00:57

timelines pose real challenge to psu
Wonder what problems he's reffering to with regards to Dhruv

Craig Alpert · Post by **Craig Alpert** » 09 Jul 2010 22:53

Tata Lockheed Martin JV

for aero-structures

09 Jul 2010 8ak: Economic Times broke a story about Tata Son's intention to set up Tata Aerostructures Ltd, a JV with a subsidiary of America's Lockheed Martin Corp (LM) in which the latter will hold 26%. It was too early for either company to make an announcement, so the EcoTimes report would have got the details from FIPB announcments and hence did not specify exact details of the venture and when contacted neither company would comment.

Rumours were that this was in relation to the F-16 fighter tender but speaking to 8ak an informed source suggested that the deal was in relation to the US$300million in offsets relating to Lockheed's US$1 billion sale of 10 C-130-J transport aircraft to India. The source said that the venture will focus on the manufacture of spare, floorbeams and ribs.

As per the Eco Times article Lockheed will invest 42.82cr in to the venture for a 26% stake. Despite pressure from the government, the Indian Ministry of Defence refuses to approve more than 26% FDI in defence and this will continue to result in ventures with the foreign investor not bringing in any significant technology.

Wonder why they call it a JV?? It's part of an OFFSET AGREEMENT, they are required to Mandatorily put back 30% in the Indian Markets, so why call it a JV?? Seems like even in a JV, LM would be making profit as they are a 26% partner with HAL!!! Sure would like to know what's included in Spares, because if LM is providing a 5/10 yr Maintenance support with a 80% availabilty, don't know what other spares can the JV offer...

VinodTK · Post by **VinodTK** » 10 Jul 2010 03:49

Draft defence production policy stresses R&D

The DPP's final draft, in fact, holds "only those weapon systems/platforms will be procured from abroad which cannot be made/developed within the country" in specified timeframes to meet "critical" operational requirements.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 11 Jul 2010 21:18

sum wrote:
New Delhi: The Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) hopes to develop an indigenous Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) submarine in four to five years, chief controller, Research and Development, A Sivathanu Pillai has said.
Errr, Did Shri Pillai mean DRDO will make AIPs for submarines or did he mean a indigenous SSK with indigenous AIP will show up in the near future?

Best to keep this gang out.

There is absolutely nothing that they do not know!!!!

Like a gas turbine engine, for instance?

chackojoseph · Post by **chackojoseph** » 11 Jul 2010 21:32

chetak wrote:

Best to keep this gang out.

There is absolutely nothing that they do not know!!!!

Like a gas turbine engine, for instance?

In my best knowledge, they get awards for a task accomplished. Could be a system in toto for a sub system. The award was not for AIP component.

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 11 Jul 2010 21:38

Best to keep this gang out.

There is absolutely nothing that they do not know!!!!

Like a gas turbine engine, for instance?

chetak, what a cheap dig, not expected from you. keep them out and bring whom in ? or should we continue buying from outside for the next 100 years as well, is that the ideal solution in your eyes ?

if you are not aware of the difficulties of the engine project and the years lost due to garbled policies at higher levels (think higher than DRDO, think MOD) then you shouldn't be rubbishing a bunch of people who achieved more than 80% of their project requirements at a level of funding that wouldn't be enough to develop a 19th century steam engine elsewhere, in spite of serious mismanagement at higher levels.
for comparison, how have the chinese fared ? with funding many times ours, having started at least a decade before us, with multiple competing teams on the job, substantial help from ex-soviet bloc scientists, world's largest system of industrial espionage backing the effort and no regard for IP ?
what exactly does this kind of maligning mean to achieve ?

Chacko there was someone who was awarded for AIp or fuel cell tech in the recent past.

chackojoseph · Post by **chackojoseph** » 11 Jul 2010 22:18

Rahul M wrote: Chacko there was someone who was awarded for AIp or fuel cell tech in the recent past.

Yes. Its Its in one of the tech focus.

chetak, what a cheap dig, not expected from you. keep them out and bring whom in ? or should we continue buying from outside for the next 100 years as well, is that the ideal solution in your eyes ?

Old habits die hard. We should start looking them in fresh manner. They have been delivering products in recent past.