P U R S U I T A N D P R O M O T I O N O F S C I E N C E

The government of Independent India setup the Defence Science Organization in1948 to advise and assist the DefenceServices on scientific problems and to

undertake research in areas related to defence. TheDefence Research & Development Organization(DRDO) was set up in 1958, by merging the units ofDefence Science Organization with the then existingTechnical Development Establishments of the threeServices. Subsequently, a separate Department ofDefence R&D was formed in 1980, to improveadministrative efficiency.

The mission of the Department is to attaintechnological self-reliance in defence systems andweapons. To accomplish this, the Department hasthe mandate to design, develop and lead on toproduction of the state-of-the-art weapon systems,platforms, sensors and allied equipment to meet therequirements of the Armed Forces and to providesupport in areas of military sciences to improvecombat effectiveness of the troops.

The Department of Defence R&D executesvarious R&D programmes and projects through anetwork of 49 laboratories/establishments of theDRDO located all over India and a Centre for MilitaryAirworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC). It alsoadministers the Aeronautical Development Agency(ADA), a society funded by the Department, whichis engaged in design and development of the LightCombat Aircraft (LCA). These laboratories andestablishments execute programmes and projects in

diverse fields of aeronautics, armaments, missiles,combat vehicles, electronics and instrumentation,advanced computing and networking, engineeringsystems, agriculture and life sciences, advancedmaterials and composites and Naval R&D. They alsoconduct specialized training programmes in theseareas. The programmes are carried out by aworkforce of about 30,000 including more than 6,000scientists and engineers, supported by a budget of theorder of Rs. 30,000 million.

To fulfill its objectives DRDO has a strongpartnership with about 40 academic institutions, 15national S&T agencies, 50 PSUs and 250 privatesector enterprises. This has enabled the organizationto minimize the effects of sanctions and technologydenials, imposed by technologically advancedcountries from time to time.

During its first decade, between 1948 and 1957,DRDO was mainly engaged in activities related toclothing, ballistics, operations research, and generalstores. During the next decade 1958-68, many products,including small and medium weapon systems,explosives, communication systems and ciphermachines were developed. The importantachievements of the next decade (1969-79), duringwhich DRDO addressed major hardware systemsincluded, field guns, sonar systems, radar andcommunication equipment and aeronautical systems.Between the years 1980-90, it embarked onprogrammes of a multi-disciplinary nature for thedevelopment of complex and sophisticated weapon

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systems having latest technology. The contribution ofDRDO towards self-reliance in defence systemsbecame evident with the development of flightsimulators for Ajeet and Kiran aircraft, air launchedmissile target Fluffy and various other types ofammunition, low-level surveillance radar Indra,electronic warfare (EW) systems and sonars. Duringthe decade of 1990-2000, certain major programmesundertaken during the previous decade culminated inweapons and systems, like the Ballistic Tank (MBT)Arjun, missiles Prithvi and Agni, pilotless target aircraftLakshya; combat improved T-72 tank Ajeya, bridge layertank on T-72; Sarvatra bridging system, artillery combatcommand and control system, 5.56 mm INSAS rifle;light machine gun and ammunition; the super

computer PACE+, sonar systems and Naval mines.Starting out as an agency which carried out

science-based technical improvements to existingsystems, DRDO has grown today to a high-technology agency capable of undertaking ab-initiodesign, development and integration, leading toproduction of world class weapon systems meetingQualitative Requirements of the Services. DRDO hasachieved technological self-reliance in ammunition,armoured systems, surface-to-surface missiles, sonarsystems, Electronic Warfare (EW) systems andadvanced computing.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PROGRAMMESAeronautical Systems: DRDO has already deliveredpilotless target aircraft Lakshya, aircraft arrester barrier,a variety of brake parachutes and balloon barragesystem to the Armed Forces. The Light CombatAircraft (LCA) programme, under execution atAeronautical Development Agency (ADA), has led tothe development of several state-of-the-artaeronautical technologies and the creation of anecessary infrastructure, despite the constraint of

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Top: Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) in flight.

Left: Kaveri engine for LCA.

sanctions imposed by the advanced countries and thecountryÕs industrial base unprepared for the requisitecomponents and advanced materials. The first LCATechnology Demonstrator (TDI) has undergone anumber of successful test flights. The remotely pilotedvehicle Nishant, is at an advanced stage of evaluation.Certain crucial elements, of the modernized avionicsof Su-30 MKI aircraft being acquired by the IAF, havebeen supplied and successfully integrated.

Armaments: DRDO has achieved a high degree ofdevelopmental self-reliance in the area of armamentand ammunition. More than 300 ammunition itemsbased upon DRDO technology worth Rs. 50,000million have been manufactured by ordnancefactories. These include 5.56 mm calibre rifle andmachine gun, anti-tank ammunition, illuminatingammunition, mines and a variety of bombs for theAir Force. The project for the development of amulti-barrel rocket system is at an advanced stageof evaluation.

Missile Systems: DRDO has established corecompetence in the area of surface-to-surface missiles,which has been demonstrated through developmentof Prithvi missile and its variants, demonstration of re-entry and related technologies for Agni-I anddevelopment of the longer range version, Agni-II. Thesurface-to-air missiles Trishul and Akash and anti-tankmissile Nag are at an advanced stage of flightevaluation. For the first time in the world, theindigenously developed capability to hit a target at4.18 km in top attack and the fire-and-forget mode hasbeen demonstrated through a flight test of Nag missile.

Radar and Communication Systems: In spite of thenon-availability of indigenous microelectronicdevices and components, DRDO laboratories havesuccessfully developed and delivered a variety ofsystems falling under this group including INDRAPC radar, equipment for Army Radio EngineeredNetwork (AREN), very low frequency receivers,satellite communication terminals and secure

telephones. A number of projects, for developmentof other radar and communication systems, arebeing carried forward.

Electronic Warfare (EW) Systems: DRDOdeveloped a number of EW systems withconsiderable success. These include Ajanta, Coin,Vikram and Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) forMiG-23 and MiG-27 aircraft, which have beendelivered to the Services. In addition, the selfprotection jammer for MiG-27, is ready for delivery.Development of an advanced RWR for MiG-21aircraft has been completed. The current EWprojects, Samyukta and Sangraha for the Army andthe Navy are at an advanced stage and should reachthe Services in the next few years. India is nowcapable of developing any type of state-of-the-artEW system for the Services.

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Agni missile.

Combat Engineering Systems: DRDOÕs efforts haveled to successful development of a variety of complexmulti-disciplinary systems including bridge layertanks, mat fording vehicles, mine field markingequipment, mortar carrier vehicles, armouredengineering recce vehicle, armoured amphibious dozer,operation theatre complex on wheels, ward containerand mobile water purification systems. The R&Dexpertise in DRDO and the production infrastructure inthe country can now be brought together for worldclass engineering systems for Defence Services.

Main Battle Tank: Arjun, and its derivative systemshave met stringent requirements of the Armysuccessfully. This tank is contemporary to worldclass tanks like M1A2 of the USA and Leopard 2 ofGermany. The bulk production of MBT Arjun is nowat an advanced stage. Based on the experiencegained during the development of MBT Arjun,DRDO has successfully integrated a 155 mm SPturret on Arjun derivative chassis for developmentof a 155 mm self-propelled weapon system. It hasalso modernized the T-72 M1 tank to improve itsfire power, mobility and protection.

Underwater Warfare Systems: This has beenanother area in which a solid foundation for self-reliance has been established by successfuldevelopment and delivery of a number of sonarsystems, including Simhika, Humsa, Humvad andPanchendriya and a number of Naval systemsincluding triple tube torpedo launcher andProcessor Based Ground Mine and Processor BasedMoored Mine. The systems in advanced stages ofdevelopment include Mihir and Nagan sonars,advanced experimental torpedo Shyena and alsowire guided torpedo.

OTHER MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTSAdvanced Computing and Software Products:DRDO has successfully developed SupercomputerPACE+, consequent to the denial of such a computerby the advanced countries. DRDOÕs expertise in

software has been demonstrated through thedevelopment and commissioning of war gamesShatranj and Sangram for the Army; Sagar for the Navyand air war game software for the Air Force. Alandmark toward self-reliance in microprocessortechnology has been achieved through developmentof ANUCO, a floating-point coprocessor and a 32-bitRISC processor ANUPAMA. Its processing speed isbeing further enhanced from 33 MHz to 350 MHz. Inaddition, a three-dimensional medical imagingsystem ÔANAMICAÕ has been developed. Softwarescalled GITA(Graphical Interactive Three Dimensional

Applications, a general purpose CAD software andAUTOLAY, a design for software manufacture isbeing marketed internationally. DRDO has also setup a Very Large Scale Integrated Circuits (VLSI)design facility, which has been used for developing anumber of Application Specific Integrated Circuits(ASICs) like the digital signal processing chip.

Critical Electronic Components: Initiatives toachieve self-reliance in the field of electroniccomponents has been taken by setting up facilitiesfor production of Gallium Arsenide and Silicondevices. Under the programme, CODE, several typesof components have been indigenized, likeintegration components, microwave components,millimeter wave components and other special types

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Main battle tank Arjun.

of components required for various ongoing DRDOprogrammes. A facility has been created to lead tofabrication of Gallium Arsenide wafers andMonolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMICs)in 1-18 GHz range. Under a co-operative venturewith other S&T Departments and Industry, DRDOhas contributed in setting up a silicon foundry whichhas the potential of making the country independentof foreign sources in respect of most of the VLSIrequirements.

Electronic and Strategic Materials: DRDO hasdeveloped several types of strategic materials likeÔJackal M-1Õ steel for bullet-proof jackets and bullet-proof vehicles; aluminium alloy for structuralapplications in the Light Combat Aircraft; singlecrystal super alloy and directionally solidified superalloy for use in high performance aero-engines; fibrereinforced plastic (FRP) composites for immunityagainst small arms ammunition and missilefragments on board ships; kevlar/aramid compositematerial for light weight combat helmet and rare earthbased high energy magnets for application in IndiaÕsspace programme. DRDO has undertaken certaininitiatives for making the country self-sufficient in anumber of strategic materials, like setting up a facilityfor carbon fibre and prepegs for application inaerospace structures; launching of a nationalprogramme for development of smart materials andtechnology development for high purity aluminasubstrate and PTFE soft substrate for use inmicrowave integrated circuits. Technology forFullerenes and carbon nano tubes which havepotential applications in stealth, smart materials andmicro-electronics have been indigenized and facilitiesfor nano tubes at 5 gm/day level has been established.

Metal/Material Processing Technologies: Thetechnology to convert titanium tetrachloride intotitanium sponge, which is a closely guarded secret ofthe few titanium sponge producers in the world, hasbeen developed which will enable India to utilize theworldÕs largest reserves of titanium which the country

has. This can be gainfully utilized in defence,aerospace, oil and power sector industries. Inaddition, innovative processes comprising airinduction melting and electro-slag refining have beendeveloped to produce iron aluminide based advancedinter-metallics. Aluminium based particulate metalmatrix structural composites for aerospaceapplications have also also been developed.Technologies and processes such as ion plasmadeposition of protective layers and laser processinghave been established. Two grades of ultra cleanstructural and armour steels of High Strength LowAlloy (HSLA) steel variety, copper-boron (CuBux)and armour (ARx), have been designed anddeveloped for structural and armour applications inmarine vessels.

Radar and Communication Technologies: To meetthe requirements of modern radars, namely longerdetection ranges, faster data rates (short reactiontimes) and ability to accommodate increased targetdensities, DRDO has indigenously developed thetechnology area of array design and developedexpertise in the development of radiating elements,taking into account the mutual coupling, collimationand beam steering, feeds etc. A planar, phased arraysystem has been successfully implemented in Rajendraradar. Another achievement is the speech secrecysystems based on state-of-art encryption techniquesfor telephone secrecy (speech), secrecy over radio andmulti-channel (bulk) secrecy over voice and data. Thesatellite communication terminals, based on state-of-art techniques like spread spectrum multiple access,high grade secrecy and low bit-rate voice digitization,have been developed. One such terminal in S-bandwas used during the Orissa cyclone in 2000, forcommunication with remote villages.

Missile Technologies: During the execution ofIGMDP programme, DRDO developed severaltechnologies that have gone into various missilesystems. These include: strapdown inertial guidancesystem, high strength low weight magnesium alloy

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wings; manoeuvrable trajectory; accuratelydeliverable high lethality field interchangeablewarheads; multiple target tracking; compositeairframe; nitramine based smokeless propellant;ram rocket technology; three beam commandguidance system; carbon-carbon technology; andmanoeuvrable re-entry guidance and control forlong range missions.

Naval Technologies: During the course of thedevelopment of indigenous surface, ship andsubmarine sonars and other sonar systems by DRDO,a number of technologies have been developed. Theseinclude multi-channel sonarsignal conditioning and dataacquisition; sonar signalprocessing hardware; sonardisplay systems; sonarsimulation and sonar poweramplifiers. In the developmentof underwater acoustictransducers of various types,special acoustic materials likepolymers, polymer matrixcomposites, elastomers andadhesives have been developedalong with expertise inengineering aspects like packaging underwatersealings and encapsulations. DRDO is a world leaderin development of Impressed Current CathodicProtection (ICCP) technology to supplement theprotection provided by paints to underwater structuresagainst sea water corrosion. Work is in progress onÔDual ZoneÕ ICCP system. Fire retardant intumescentpaint; non skid and high performance exterior paintsand polymer based materials like vibration dampingmaterial; ion exchange-cum-indicator resin andpolyurethane sealant have been developed. Work isalso in progress on fuel cells as an alternative source ofpower. In the area of underwater weapon propulsion,magnesium-silver battery technology and contrarotating motor with indigenous design and technologyhave also been developed. Machinery Control Room

(MCR) simulators for training engine room crew havebeen developed. The DRDO-developed hydrophonesystem was used to detect Gujarat earthquake victimsburied under the debris, based on which it was possibleto rescue five persons.

Agriculture and Life Science Technologies: Colddesert agro-animal technologies have helped tosustain the population of Leh (Ladakh) and to meetthe requirements of military and para-militaryforces deployed in these regions. These technologieshave helped to grow off-season vegetables forsoldiers and the local people. Growing of fresh

vegetables locally andgreenhouse cultivationduring frigid winters aresaving considerable trans-portation costs for the Army.DRDO has helped inestablishing a self-sustainingvillage, Nang, at a height ofabout 4,000 m. It hasdeveloped technology forsoil-less agriculture orÔhydroponicsÕ which is veryeffective in areas not havingsuitable soil and where

economy in water use is mandatory. Aninternationally acclaimed concept of Ôradio iodinesplit dose therapyÕ for management of hyper-thyroidism has been developed. In addition, severalman-machine and man-medicine interfacetechnologies and food preservation and foodprocessing technologies have been developed.

NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE ASSETS

DRDO has been instrumental in creation ofsophisticated and high cost R&D facilities for

test, evaluation and other purposes. These may betermed assets, as these fulfill the requirements notonly of DRDO but also of other scientific organiza-tions and of the industry. A brief account of such facil-ities created, is presented.

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THE DRDO-DEVELOPED

HYDROPHONE SYSTEM

WAS USED TO DETECT

GUJARAT EARTHQUAKE

VICTIMS BURIED UNDER

THE DEBRIS, BASED ON

WHICH IT WAS POSSIBLE

TO RESCUE FIVE PERSONS.

Range Test Facilities: To meet the requirements ofvarious missiles and other weapon systemdevelopment programmes, a total of four launchcomplexes have been established: three at InterimTest Range, Balasore, and one on an island. Theselaunch complexes suit specific requirements withoutaffecting the natural environment in the test range.The range of instrumentation includes sophisticatedradars, electro-optic tracking system, telemetrysystem, range computer and wide band dataacquisition and processing system. With the help ofthese sophisticated instrumentation, the post-flightdata are available within thirty minutes of the flight.In the recent past, the range facility was utilized byMinistry of Defence, Singapore, on a paid basis.

Flight Simulation Facilities: DRDO has createdseveral flight simulation facilities to support designinvestigations of fighter aircraft performance, handlingqualities and capabilities in close combat and missionsystem performance. Some of the facilities include:research flight simulation facility, pilot-in-loop flightsimulation facility, air combat simulator, missionavionics systems simulator, cockpit environmentfacility and aircraft system maintenance simulator. Avirtual reality centre has been set up to address therequirements of virtual prototyping of LCA. TheAeronautical Material Testing Laboratory (AMTL), anational facility, is one of its kind for testingaeronautical material and components. In addition,under Aeronautics Research & Development Board(AR&DB), DRDO helped in setting up of sophisticatedtest facilities at IISc, Bangalore, IITs, some universitiesand at other technological institutions like NAL, tosupport R&D in aeronautics and applied science.Some of these major facilities are: modified trisonicwind tunnel (NAL), 200 mm hypersonic wind tunnel(IISc), high temperature low cycle fatigue test facility(IIT-B) and full-scale fatigue test facility (NAL).

National Centre for Automative Testing: DRDOhas set up a National Centre for AutomativeTesting (NCAT), at Ahmednagar, for testing and

evaluation of automotive vehicles, their systemsand components for certification for complianceof various national/international standards.Spread over an area of 450 acres, this facilityconsists of track testing and testing for emission,photometry, EMI and safety and has necessarysupporting infrastructure to provide a one-stopsolution to the requirements of Indian automativeindustry. A variety of test tracks and facilities arespread over an area of 450 acres. The test trackssimulate a variety of ground/road surfaceconditions which a vehicle normally encountersduring its span of use.

Electronic Warfare Test and Evaluation Facilities:DRDO has created Electronic Systems EvaluationCentre (ELSEC) for ground integration of EWsystems and testing of systems under real lifeconditions. A Range on Wheels (ROW), comprisingsix mobile ground stations has been madeoperational. It is a unique facility for evaluation ofairborne EW systems during development, useracceptance and system enhancement phases. Thesetting up of EW Simulation Testing and EvaluationStation (SITES) and Microwave ComponentsQualification and Testing Centre (MQTC) is inprogress.

Underwater Research Facilities: A premier researchfacility called High Speed Towing Tank (HSTT) forcarrying out studies on experimentalhydrodynamics related to model testing of ships,propellers and submerged bodies has been set up.An Underwater Acoustic Research Facility (AURF),a lake facility established by DRDO at Kulamavu inIdukki district of Kerala, carries out calibration andfull-scale testing of underwater acoustictransducers, array and other sub-sea equipment likefish finding sonars, echo sounders and underwatercommunication systems. A dedicated research shipSagardhwani equipped with state-of-the-artlaboratories has been developed and is being usedfor collection of oceanographic data. Materials and

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Transducers Simulated Test facility (MATS), the onlyone of its kind in the Asia Pacific region and one ofthe very few in the world, has been establishedrecently which provides static and dynamicmeasurements on materials and transducers underdifferent conditions of temperature and pressure,simulating ocean depths. The setting up of anunderwater range and a cavitation tunnel facility isin progress.

R&D FOR SOCIETAL BENEFITSFloor Reaction Orthosis (FRO): As a medical spin-off of advanced composite technology used inmaking missile nose cones, Floor Reaction Orthosis,a walking aid for polio patients with quadricepsmuscle weakness, has been developed. This weighsonly 300 gm, as against 3 to 3.2 kg for the commonlyused variety, is inexpensive and can be worn easilywith and without shoes. More than 2,500 suchwalking aids have been fitted to polio handicappedpersons in camps organized for this purpose.

Coronary Stents: Using special grade austeniticstainless steel, developed for LCA and missileprogrammes, two types of stents have beendeveloped for dilating constricted arteries. Over 115stents have been fitted in patients so far. The cost ofthe indigenous stent is Rs. 15,000 as against Rs.40,000 or more for the imported one.

Cardiac Pacemaker: An external pacemaker has been designed and developed for intensive care ofpatients suffering from degenerative heart diseases.The system has been clinically validated at NizamInstitute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad. Efforts arebeing made to convert it into a portable system.

Cardiovascular Catheters: These have beendeveloped to offer a heart patient the option of non-surgical treatment of defect within the heart and therest of the circulatory system. The cost of theindigenous catheter would be Rs. 1,500 against Rs. 4,500 for the imported one.

Cardiac Stress Test System: A PC-based, low costindigenous system has been developed to acquire andanalyse the ECG of a person doing exercise. Thesystem comprises a standard protocol of gradedexercise programme, acquisition, analysis anddocumentation of ECG and trends in BP, heart rateand ECG, indicating heart abnormalities. The systemhardware consists of a 12-channel ECG dataacquisition system and is priced at Rs. 350,000 to400,000 as against Rs. 1.2 to 1.5 million for the importedone. The system is in operation at Air Force Hospital,Delhi, and its technology has been transferred to trade.

Cytoscan: Using the latest pattern recognition andimage processing technologies, a computer aidedcancer detection device has been developed byDRDO. The system is used for diagnosis andprognosis of several cancers, including cervical andbreast cancer. The system has been used fordetection of cervical cancer amongst tribal womenin Andhra Pradesh under Project Tulsi, funded bythe Ministry of Social Welfare. The programme willbe extended to rural areas of Bihar, MadhyaPradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. More than20,000 rural women have been scanned so far.

Slit Lamp Microscope and Drishti: IndiaÕs first Nd-YAG ophthalmic laser system Drishti-1064 has beendeveloped by DRDO. The system is used forophthalmic applications in the treatment ofglaucoma.

Dental Implants: Using commercially puretitanium, a technology has been developed todesign and fabricate titanium endosteel implantsand bone plates. It has tremendous application inoral and skeletal rehabilitation. The Drug Controllerof India, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, hasaccorded approval for multi-centric clinical trials.

Piezodent--Ultrasonic Dental Scalar: Using piezo-electric transducer technology, a device has beendeveloped for use by a dentist to remove tartar on

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the teeth. This technology is more efficient ascompared with the earlier magnetic strictivetechnology. The device is built around highly efficientpiezo-ceramic transducer and is light and compactwith ergonomically designed hand piece and isequipped with a unique swivel facility for multi-directional accessibility and parking of handpiece.The technology has been transferred to industry.

Water Desalination Technology: DRDO hasdeveloped water desalination, testing andpurification technologies, based on which 30desalination plants have been commissioned in 25villages of Barmer district of Rajasthan under Phase-I of project Sujalam. A watertesting field kit has beendeveloped in accordance withthe requirements of NationalDrinking Water Mission, forquick assessment of chemicaland bacteriological quality ofwater for potability. Thetechnology has beentransferred to industry.

Tissue Bank Facility: A tissuebank facility has been createdby DRDO for preparation ofradiation processed chorio-amnion grafts. The grafts areextremely useful for treatment of burn injuries. Thefacility can provide 2,000 grafts per year.

Avalanche Forecasting: The organization has set upa number of observatories and automatic weatherstations at various locations, based on which,avalanche forecast warnings with high accuracy arebeing issued to areas of Jammu and Kashmir,Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. An Ôavalanchevictim detectorÕ has also been developed to locateavalanche victims and facilitate rescue operations.HAPO Bag: DRDO has developed a High AltitudePulmonary Oedema (HAPO) bag for HAPO

patients by simulating a safe ambient pressurearound the patient. A two-bedded hyperbaricchamber has been commissioned for civilapplication at Indraprastha Apolo Hospital, NewDelhi, for carrying out hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Jammer for RCIED: The Remote Control ImprovisedExplosive Devices (RCIEDs) are being used bycriminal and anti-national elements by integratingdevices, such as, cordless telephones, remote bell,remote control toys, garbage door openers and DTMFtransceivers with explosive devices. DRDO hassuccessfully developed a system as a counter-measureagainst RCIEDs. This system prevents the command

signals entering the RCIED,which is initiated by a hand-held transmitter. The systemcan be installed on anAmbassador car for VVIPsecurity, on Armada Jeep or aTata Sumo vehicle, forparamilitary convoyprotection.

Bio-digesters: A consortiumof bacteria and digesters fordisposal of human wastethrough microbial degra-dation in an eco-friendlymanner, for use in high

altitude, low temperature areas has been developed.Some of these, installed at high altitudes and glacierregions, are functioning satisfactorily.

Explosive Detection Kit: DRDO has developed akit for detection and identification of explosives. Itcan detect and identify explosives based on anycombination of nitroesters, nitramines, trinitro-toluene (TNT), dynamite or black powder. Thetesting requires only 3 to 5 mg of suspected sampleand only 3 or 4 drops of reagents.

Long-Term Storage of Tender Coconut Water: A

DRDO HAS DEVELOPED A

KIT FOR DETECTION AND

IDENTIFICATION OF

EXPLOSIVES BASED ON ANY

COMBINATION OF

NITROESTERS, NITRAMINES,

TRINITROTOLUENE (TNT),

DYNAMITE OR BLACK

POWDER.

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technology has been developed to preserve tendercoconut water, a delicious natural and healthy drinkrich in minerals, especially potassium. The drink isstored in aluminium cans and flexible polymericpouches to preserve its natural characteristics up tosix months. The technology has been transferredand the product is now being marketed.

INTERACTION WITH ACADEMIA

DRDO has constituted four research boards tonurture and harness talent in academic institu-

tions, universities, R&D centres and industry. Theorganization provides necessary facilities for pro-moting basic research and to catalyse cross-fertiliza-tion of ideas with R&D agencies in other sectors forexpanding and enriching the knowledge base intheir respective areas. The boards provide grants-in-aid for collaborative defence-related futuristic front-line research having application in the new world-class systems to be developed by DRDO.

The catalytic role played by research boards hashelped rapid growth in building capabilities in thearea of aeronautical state-of-the-art systems likelight helicopter, and in setting up a centre ofexcellence in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)at the IISc, Bangalore, which is anticipated to givea boost to the designing of aeronautical systemswithin the country. Another centre of excellence inaerospace system design and engineering is beingset up at IIT, Mumbai. A Centre for CompositeStructure Technology is proposed to be set up at theNational Aerospace Laboratory, Bangalore. Grants-in-aid by DRDO have led to setting up of a hyper-media digital library in IIT, Kharagpur, to thedevelopment of audio-visual training aids foraircrew, to indoctrination in air sickness and positivepressure breathing at the Institute of AviationMedicine, Bangalore, and to the development ofrarefied gas dynamic facility at IIT, Chennai.

The Armament Research Board (ARMREB) hasapproved projects in the fields of high energymaterials, sensors, ballistics and other armamentrelated fields. Under the Naval Research Board

(NRB), projects are being pursued in five technologyareas. Under Life Sciences Research Board (LSRB)projects have been supported in the areas ofbiological and bio-medical sciences, psychology,physiology, bio-engineering, specialized highaltitude agriculture, food science and technology.

COLLABORATION WITH INDUSTRY

Eight DRDO laboratories working in the areas ofadvanced materials, robotics and artificial intelli-

gence, communication systems, life-support sys-tems, corrosion protection, advanced compositesand desert technologies have been opened to theindustry. Several technologies have been transferredto private industry such as the Scara robot, used forassembly jobs and the articulated robot used formaterial handling, welding, spray-painting etc. Inthe field of material science, the technologies trans-ferred include: boropak, a chemical mixture toimpart surface hardness and reduce wear and tear offerrous and some non-ferrous metals; non-sparktools for copper titanium alloy; gigly saw for use byorthopaedic surgeons; rust converter for protectionof ferrous metals against corrosion; moisture-resis-tant corrugated fibre board box as an alternative totimber for packing; and glacier tents for protection insub-zero temperatures.

In a number of areas involving emergingtechnologies in which industries are not willing toinvest setting up defence-specific manufacturingfacilities, DRDO has also been collaborating withother departments as well as industry to helptransform defence technologies for developingproducts for the civil sector. As these exercisesinvolve long gestation periods, technological risk,lack of continuity of orders and lack of economy ofscale, DRDO has assisted in setting-up dedicatedfacilities in such areas. Some of these initiatives arelisted as follows.

Heavy Alloy Penetrator Project (HAPP): A fullyautomated factory for manufacturing highprecisioncomponents and assembly of Fin Stabilized ArmourPiercing Discarding Sabot (FSAPDS) ammunition has

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been established by DRDO at Trichy and handed overto Ordnance Factory Board. World class FSAPDSammunition of different calibres are under regularproduction and have been supplied to the Army.

Bharat Dynamic Limited (BDL): A modernfactory has been established for production ofPrithvi and other missile systems being developedunder Integrated Guided Missile DevelopmentProgramme (IGMDP). Free flow production ofPrithvi has been established.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL): AnAerospace Division has been established to providespecial thrust of Prithvi and other missile systemsbeing developed under IGMDP.

Non-Ferrous Technology Development Centre(NFTDC): This society has been established as anadvanced technology centre with participation ofthe Department of Mines, DST, DRDO and Industry(BALCO, NALCO, HCL and HZL). Some of thecontributions of this centre include millform ofcopper alloys, silver-based brazing alloys, titaniumimplants and master alloys for grain refinement ofaluminium.

Advanced Research Centre International (ARCI):This is a cooperative venture between India, Bylo-Russia, USA and Ukraine. India is represented byDRDO and DST. This Centre has been set up foradvanced research in powder metallurgy and otherspecial processes leading to uses by both defenceand civil sectors. The contributions made by thisCentre include development of coating for Adourengine turbine blade and exfoliated graphite forhigh temperature gasket.

TRAINING SCHEMES

DRDO has introduced a number of schemes fortraining of defence-science personnel in univer-

sities and other leading academic institutions. It alsohas two training institutions namely, Institute ofArmament Technology (IAT) at Pune and Institute ofTechnology Management (ITM) at Mussoorie. Theseinstitutes provide specialized training programmesin diverse fields. The ITM has recently started con-ducting MBA in Technology Management in collabo-ration with Bhartidasan University. The IAT has beenaccorded the status of a deemed-to-be university. Inaddition, a number of laboratories conduct trainingprogrammes in disciplines of their core competencelike fire-fighting and fire-engineering, wargamingsoftwares, special clothing and so on. To cite an exam-ple, Defence Food Research Laboratory at Mysoreconducts training programmes in food science andtechnology, modern methods of handling, hygiene,transportation, storage and packaging of food materi-als; comprehensive course in food microbiology anda ten-month postgraduate programme in food analy-sis exclusively for Service officers. In recent years, thePG Diploma Course (recognized by the University ofMysore) has trained many civilian candidates whohave been absorbed by food industries. Other short-term orientation and specialized courses are conduct-ed at the specific request of industries and laborato-ries, colleges and universities. A DRDO laboratory,the Defence Research & Development Establishmentat Gwalior, has been recognized as a centre for train-ing inspectors who are to be appointed by the UNOrganization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

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