Rajnath calls for long term strategy, tie up with academia to keep pace with fast changing defence technology
Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 28
Stating that the nature of today’s warfare is very dynamic and technology dominance in coming years will increase, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called upon all stake holders, including scientists, armed forces and the industry, to keep an eye on evolving technologies and prepare a long term strategy to enhance indigenous capabilities.
Addressing scientists at DRDO’s Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) here after inaugurating the Augmented Environmental Test Facility for evaluating warheads and reviewing the laboratory’s technical infrastructure, he said technology in the present era is changing very fast. “By the time technology is developed and converted into a product, more advance technology emerges. This calls for introspection and formulating a long term strategy,” he said.
Rajnath suggested that defence research and development organisations like TBRL should forge long term associations with academic institutions as this would enable scientists to work on core technical problems, create better technical employability and build a strong theoretical foundation. On the other hand, institutions will get the emphasis on conversion of research into actual products by moving from the theoretical analysis, which will be a win-win situation for both and will boost the defense ecosystem of the country, he said.
Emphasising on the need to strengthen technology forecasting and invest in cutting edge manufacturing and testing capabilities, the defence minister said that increase in scientific capabilities and new inventions have made a big impact on security and stressed upon the need to be equipped and ready at all times to deal with any challenge arising out of the fast-changing geopolitical scenario around the world.
Rajnath said many reforms have been undertaken by the government to increase the participation of the private sector in defence manufacturing. These include introduction of new provisions under Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020; DRDO’s initiative to involve the industry from the initial stages of development of systems, free of cost transfer of technology by DRDO and availability of its patents to the industry.
Stating that there was a need to develop ‘Indian Standard’ in the defence manufacturing sector, Rajnath appreciated the fact that an Indian Standard has already been promulgated for the testing of bullet resistant jacket, with TBRL playing a key role in its manufacturing. “Indian Standards for design, development and methodology are being developed for other protective systems and gears. Test methodologies have been standardised for evaluation of anti-mine boots, mine protected vehicles and gears. Such Indian standards will certainly help the industry to not only benchmark the product against threats, but also help them compete with foreign manufacturers,” he added.
The defence minister also listed out various other technologies developed by TBRL, including the multi-mode hand grenade, the first munition to be manufactured by the private sector and the upgraded bund blasting device, meant to destroy embankments and earthen defences that was handed over the Indian Army earlier this month.
The defence minister and senior service officers were briefed about TBRL’s role, ongoing projects and future plans as well as technical and administrative aspects by the director, Prateek Kishore.
Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Bipin Rawat, Chairman DRDO, Dr G Satheesh Reddy, Vice Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sandeep Singh, Director General Missiles and Strategic Systems (DRDO), Dr BHVS Narayana Murthy and Director General, Aeronautics (DRDO), Dr Tessy Thomas, were also present on the occasion.
On the occasion, documents of the transfer of technology to manufacture the explosive warhead developed by TBRL for the Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile Mark-II were handed over to Economic Explosives Limited, Nagpur, a private firm.
