1 week Ago By Sandip Dighe
Pune: DRDO chairman Samir Kamat said on Saturday that the organisation's production value of defence systems was over Rs5.8 lakh crore, which would double in the next five years as its systems were finding applications in the Indian armed forces and foreign countries, including European nations. Kamat was the chief guest at the convocation ceremony of the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), a deemed university of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), at Girinagar near Khadakwasla.
"With the emphasis on self-reliance, our developed systems are increasingly finding applications in Indian armed forces. At the same time, our export interest is also increasing dramatically. Brahmos missiles, radars, sonars, advanced towed artillery guns (ATAGS), and Pinaka (multi-barrel rocket launchers) have found interest in Southeast Asian countries and European nations," said Kamat.
"The DRDO has had several successes over the past years. A series of tactical missiles ranging from Akash to Naag and newer quick reaction surface to air missiles have been successful. Several new missiles will be inducted into the service.
We will soon induct a man-portable anti-tank guide missile. We also had success in radars, sonars, and torpedoes. Our armament systems, ATAGS, and Arjun tanks, are effective.
Now we are developing light tank," he said. "The Naval Materials Research Laboratory has developed an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system that will significantly increase the underwater endurance of conventional submarines of the Indian Navy in 2026. It will be a big operational advantage for the Navy," he said.
During the convocation, Kamat awarded degrees to 249 students of MTech and 22 PhD scholars from various disciplines, including 17 gold medals. The students also demonstrated their research projects on the occasion. "As there is a focus on self-reliance in the defence sector, there will be ample opportunity for you in the defence research and development sectors.
Working in collaboration is key to achieving success in defence projects. The DRDO is on the cusp of transformation, and you will be playing a key role as young scientists," said Kamat. He said the DRDO is working to adopt several disruptive defence technologies that have emerged from the ongoing wars (Israel and Hamas and Russia and Ukraine).
"Currently, the world is going through geopolitical and strategic changes. The world order is changing, and India will play a massive role. Several disruptive defence technologies have emerged in the ongoing wars that have a disproportionate impact on the outcomes.
So, we are seeing how best we can adapt to the world's emerging technologies," he added. Kamat said they have collaborated with leading institutes in the country. "We have established 15 academic institutes of excellence to work on high technology projects.
We are trying to emulate the US, which has set up similar centres in their leading institutes such as California Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology etc to leverage young talents to find defence solutions," he said. Kamat said they have established five "young scientists" laboratories with directors below the age of 35. "This is our effort to make the organisation agile to encourage young scientists to work on research and development organisation projects like start-ups," he said.
The chairman said they are also working in collaboration with private industries. "We can fund up to Rs 50 crore to private industries for developing indigenous research and development systems and create a defence research and development ecosystem," he added..
