Under pressure from the government to introduce more unambiguous targets for indigenous weapons projects, M Natarajan, chief of Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), has for the first time ordered the directors of all 50 of the organisation's laboratories to urgently bring out clear-cut business development plans.
The idea of creating individual business roadmaps came after the recent discussions between the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) and the DRDO. The Defence Ministry will use the business development plans as new, straightforward benchmarks to track DRDO's overall performance, particularly its contribution to the country's "self-reliance index", currently at a dismal 30 per cent.
"The business plan from each lab would shape the choice of projects consistent with user's requirements and in conformity with the aspirations and capabilities of DRDO laboratories," Natarajan has said in a letter to all DRDO staff. The 50 individual plans are to be finalised shortly.
Following an eight-part investigative series in this newspaper in November last year on the delays and cost escalation that have afflicted almost all DRDO projects, the government constituted an eight-member independent panel last month to report on its procedural, administrative and financial flaws.
The panel has already begun work on a comprehensive report that it will deliver to the Defence Ministry later this year.
"I am confident our senior scientists together with the younger lot will continually keep changing in tune with the needs of the time," Natarajan said in his letter, adding, "It must be appreciated that products like aircraft, battle tanks, electronic warfare systems, strategic and tactical missile systems and submarines can only be realised through the sustained efforts of highly dedicated team of scientists, engineers, technical staff and technicians."
Natarajan went on to point out that 2007 would not only involve "efforts on technology transfer and production of MBT Arjun, Akash, Nag and possibly, Trishul", but also new areas such as unmanned aerial vehicles, advanced radar systems and sensors.
The idea of creating individual business roadmaps came after the recent discussions between the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) and the DRDO. The Defence Ministry will use the business development plans as new, straightforward benchmarks to track DRDO's overall performance, particularly its contribution to the country's "self-reliance index", currently at a dismal 30 per cent.
"The business plan from each lab would shape the choice of projects consistent with user's requirements and in conformity with the aspirations and capabilities of DRDO laboratories," Natarajan has said in a letter to all DRDO staff. The 50 individual plans are to be finalised shortly.
Following an eight-part investigative series in this newspaper in November last year on the delays and cost escalation that have afflicted almost all DRDO projects, the government constituted an eight-member independent panel last month to report on its procedural, administrative and financial flaws.
The panel has already begun work on a comprehensive report that it will deliver to the Defence Ministry later this year.
"I am confident our senior scientists together with the younger lot will continually keep changing in tune with the needs of the time," Natarajan said in his letter, adding, "It must be appreciated that products like aircraft, battle tanks, electronic warfare systems, strategic and tactical missile systems and submarines can only be realised through the sustained efforts of highly dedicated team of scientists, engineers, technical staff and technicians."
Natarajan went on to point out that 2007 would not only involve "efforts on technology transfer and production of MBT Arjun, Akash, Nag and possibly, Trishul", but also new areas such as unmanned aerial vehicles, advanced radar systems and sensors.
-Indian Express
The dismal track record of the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), highlighted by The Indian Express through a series of investigative reports earlier this month, found an echo in Parliament today where Defence Minister A K Antony promised a new system of accountability to keep delays and cost over-runs in check.
In reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha if the DRDO was fulfilling the country's strategic requirements, Antony stated that technical difficulties had created delays. "Stringent review and monitoring mechanism has been put in place. For the new projects, involvement of user and industry is ensured ab-initio. Shared stakeholding is also being brought and discussed which will ensure accountability," he said.
Referring to the guided missile programme, the Samvahak command information system for the Army, the Samyukta electronic warfare programme, Sangraha Naval electronic warfare programme and the LCA Tejas, Antony said: "The fact is that due to genuine technical difficulties some of the projects have been delayed, but these are nearing completion at various times, and when developed, the products will be equipped with current technologies with a useful life of about 20-25 years. For other ongoing projects, all efforts are being made to meet the Probable Date of Completion (PDC)." The Indian Express had highlighted how all major DRDO programmes were on their second or third PDC extension.
-Indian Express
DRDO gets it right when it’s unlike DRDO
Delayed Research, Derailed Organisation
NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 17
For all its defences against non-performance, the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), ironically, has only to look within for ready templates of distinction. Programmes that have met targets are an isolated few but they worked well because their ethic symbolizes a fundamental breakaway from the tedium of the larger organisation’s default approach. Self-reliance, a term battered by DRDO’s track-record on showpiece programmes, shines beneath the hood in the Navy’s sonars, avionics and electronic warfare systems on IAF fighter aircraft and missiles developed under corporate foreign joint ventures.
The first two were developed on time because of the labs linking up with the armed forces right from the initial stages and, significantly, leadership that keeps young scientists on their toes. The latter, because international partnerships mandate a more professional approach to programme completion.
One of the most successful DRDO laboratories is also one of the least known, tucked away silently in the Trikkakara suburb of Kochi, fomenting applied research and technology to give the Navy real self-reliance in critical sensor systems.
The Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), the only DRDO lab to win both the Silicon Trophy and Titanium Trophy for excellence, has, in the last two decades, given the Navy an impressive 87 per cent self-reliance in acoustic sensors for warships and submarines. All Navy warships, including foreign ones, as a result, are fitted with DRDO sonars like the APSOH, HUMVAD and HUMSA, and the Navy does not need to import. Now, it is putting its finishing touches to the USHUS sonar for the Navy’s Kilo-class submarines and the Mihir dunking sonar for HAL’s Advanced Light Helicopter, all well within their projected timeframes.
Vice Admiral Madanjit Singh, formerly the Navy’s Southern Commander at Kochi, said, “The NPOL’s success is from user involvement right from the word go. The steering panel is headed by a serving Naval commander who sets the agenda, efforts between the DRDO and Navy are joint.”
VK Aatre, former NPOL director who went on to become DRDO chief, agrees. “When I was there, we could not distinguish between designers, Navy personnel and production engineers,” he said. “We shared an excellent rapport. The difference here was that the user was part of the design team.”
The lab’s current director V Chander, an IIT-IISc alumnus, has espoused applied research like no other DRDO establishment, working not for idealistic invention, but delivering quality, fool-proof sonar systems to the Navy. How?
First, he’s rechristened the HR cell as People, Academics, Research & Training. He’s made sure young scientists get to spend time with the Navy for extended periods of time rather than labour away only in their laboratories. Third, he’s made sure that the level of involvement with warships and the Navy is so high that projects are either completed or prudently foreclosed before despondence and lassitude can set in.
Vice Admiral Singh, as DG Defence Planning in 2000, recommended to the Task Force on the Reorganization of Higher Defence Planning, that the country’s R&D labs be rationalized on the lines of NPOL. What ensued, another story entirely, was a turf war that saw the idea quietly dissipate. Another area where DRDO has shone despite itself is avionics and electronic warfare systems for IAF fighter aircraft.
The IAF’s most advanced fighter, the Sukhoi-30 MKI, flies with avionics developed by the Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE) in Bangalore, and has proved so good that the new British Hawk advanced jet trainers and the license-produced units of the upcoming contract for 126 foreign fighters, will be armed with DARE avionics and electronic warfare systems.
For now, in addition to the Sukhois, these arm IAF Jaguars and MiG-27s which, combined, have over 30 DARE electronic systems, including mission computers, electronic warfare suites, laser rangers and multifunction advanced cockpits.
A testimony to DARE’s work: in 2003, the Royal Malysian Air Force ordered radar computers worth Rs 21.15 crore (75 per cent of DRDO’s officially declared export value of Rs 27.93 crore) from DARE for its Sukhoi-30MM fighter fleet, and is interested in buying more.
Air Marshal JS Gujral, formerly IAF Central Air Commander and Deputy Chief in charge of acquisitions, feels DARE has done an excellent job in a world where such technology is simply too advanced to share. “DARE’s projects have succeeded also because of deep interfacing with the IAF. They have maintained a high mark in defence output and timeframes compared to DRDO’s other not-so-successful ventures. Across the board, the avionics and electronic warfare systems by DARE match up with the best in the world. The IAF has been very happy with what they have provided us,” Gujral said. DARE Director RP Ramalingam said, “DRDO has realized that if there is a WW III, the winner will be the side that can best control the electromagnetic spectrum, and has therefore placed India as a competent force in the world map of avionics.”
Foreign joint ventures, on the other hand, have compelled DRDO to put out more realistic predictions on time and cost. The BrahMos missile project, which began development in 1998 as a corporate joint venture with Russia and resulted in a world-class cruise missile that other countries now want to buy, was completed in just six years at a cost of Rs 667 crore - no time and cost overruns.
Similarly, the new generation Barak-II surface to air missile for the Navy, being developed by DRDO in a JV with Israel, is officially to cost Rs 2, 606.02 crore and be ready by May 2011, a far more realistic predictive frame than any other missile project under the indigenous IGMDP.
The defence sector does not have a policy for foreign direct investment, but DRDO open to joint ventures with foreign partners. No wonder then, that on June 7, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence said, “BrahMos model should be followed in other projects also. Private sector should be given more opportunities in defence production and user participation should be encouraged from R&D stage.”
-(Tomorrow: A prescription for DRDO reforms)
-Indian Express
DRDO opposes it but House panel underlines: you need outside audit
DRDO delays: Antony for accountability, checks
DRDO delays: Antony for accountability, checks The dismal track record of the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), highlighted by The Indian Express through a series of investigative reports earlier this month, found an echo in Parliament today where Defence Minister A K Antony promised a new system of accountability to keep delays and cost over-runs in check.
In reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha if the DRDO was fulfilling the country's strategic requirements, Antony stated that technical difficulties had created delays. "Stringent review and monitoring mechanism has been put in place. For the new projects, involvement of user and industry is ensured ab-initio. Shared stakeholding is also being brought and discussed which will ensure accountability," he said.
Referring to the guided missile programme, the Samvahak command information system for the Army, the Samyukta electronic warfare programme, Sangraha Naval electronic warfare programme and the LCA Tejas, Antony said: "The fact is that due to genuine technical difficulties some of the projects have been delayed, but these are nearing completion at various times, and when developed, the products will be equipped with current technologies with a useful life of about 20-25 years. For other ongoing projects, all efforts are being made to meet the Probable Date of Completion (PDC)." The Indian Express had highlighted how all major DRDO programmes were on their second or third PDC extension.
-Indian Express
DRDO gets it right when it’s unlike DRDO
Delayed Research, Derailed Organisation
NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 17
For all its defences against non-performance, the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), ironically, has only to look within for ready templates of distinction. Programmes that have met targets are an isolated few but they worked well because their ethic symbolizes a fundamental breakaway from the tedium of the larger organisation’s default approach. Self-reliance, a term battered by DRDO’s track-record on showpiece programmes, shines beneath the hood in the Navy’s sonars, avionics and electronic warfare systems on IAF fighter aircraft and missiles developed under corporate foreign joint ventures.
The first two were developed on time because of the labs linking up with the armed forces right from the initial stages and, significantly, leadership that keeps young scientists on their toes. The latter, because international partnerships mandate a more professional approach to programme completion.
One of the most successful DRDO laboratories is also one of the least known, tucked away silently in the Trikkakara suburb of Kochi, fomenting applied research and technology to give the Navy real self-reliance in critical sensor systems.
The Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), the only DRDO lab to win both the Silicon Trophy and Titanium Trophy for excellence, has, in the last two decades, given the Navy an impressive 87 per cent self-reliance in acoustic sensors for warships and submarines. All Navy warships, including foreign ones, as a result, are fitted with DRDO sonars like the APSOH, HUMVAD and HUMSA, and the Navy does not need to import. Now, it is putting its finishing touches to the USHUS sonar for the Navy’s Kilo-class submarines and the Mihir dunking sonar for HAL’s Advanced Light Helicopter, all well within their projected timeframes.
Vice Admiral Madanjit Singh, formerly the Navy’s Southern Commander at Kochi, said, “The NPOL’s success is from user involvement right from the word go. The steering panel is headed by a serving Naval commander who sets the agenda, efforts between the DRDO and Navy are joint.”
VK Aatre, former NPOL director who went on to become DRDO chief, agrees. “When I was there, we could not distinguish between designers, Navy personnel and production engineers,” he said. “We shared an excellent rapport. The difference here was that the user was part of the design team.”
The lab’s current director V Chander, an IIT-IISc alumnus, has espoused applied research like no other DRDO establishment, working not for idealistic invention, but delivering quality, fool-proof sonar systems to the Navy. How?
First, he’s rechristened the HR cell as People, Academics, Research & Training. He’s made sure young scientists get to spend time with the Navy for extended periods of time rather than labour away only in their laboratories. Third, he’s made sure that the level of involvement with warships and the Navy is so high that projects are either completed or prudently foreclosed before despondence and lassitude can set in.
Vice Admiral Singh, as DG Defence Planning in 2000, recommended to the Task Force on the Reorganization of Higher Defence Planning, that the country’s R&D labs be rationalized on the lines of NPOL. What ensued, another story entirely, was a turf war that saw the idea quietly dissipate. Another area where DRDO has shone despite itself is avionics and electronic warfare systems for IAF fighter aircraft.
The IAF’s most advanced fighter, the Sukhoi-30 MKI, flies with avionics developed by the Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE) in Bangalore, and has proved so good that the new British Hawk advanced jet trainers and the license-produced units of the upcoming contract for 126 foreign fighters, will be armed with DARE avionics and electronic warfare systems.
For now, in addition to the Sukhois, these arm IAF Jaguars and MiG-27s which, combined, have over 30 DARE electronic systems, including mission computers, electronic warfare suites, laser rangers and multifunction advanced cockpits.
A testimony to DARE’s work: in 2003, the Royal Malysian Air Force ordered radar computers worth Rs 21.15 crore (75 per cent of DRDO’s officially declared export value of Rs 27.93 crore) from DARE for its Sukhoi-30MM fighter fleet, and is interested in buying more.
Air Marshal JS Gujral, formerly IAF Central Air Commander and Deputy Chief in charge of acquisitions, feels DARE has done an excellent job in a world where such technology is simply too advanced to share. “DARE’s projects have succeeded also because of deep interfacing with the IAF. They have maintained a high mark in defence output and timeframes compared to DRDO’s other not-so-successful ventures. Across the board, the avionics and electronic warfare systems by DARE match up with the best in the world. The IAF has been very happy with what they have provided us,” Gujral said. DARE Director RP Ramalingam said, “DRDO has realized that if there is a WW III, the winner will be the side that can best control the electromagnetic spectrum, and has therefore placed India as a competent force in the world map of avionics.”
Foreign joint ventures, on the other hand, have compelled DRDO to put out more realistic predictions on time and cost. The BrahMos missile project, which began development in 1998 as a corporate joint venture with Russia and resulted in a world-class cruise missile that other countries now want to buy, was completed in just six years at a cost of Rs 667 crore - no time and cost overruns.
Similarly, the new generation Barak-II surface to air missile for the Navy, being developed by DRDO in a JV with Israel, is officially to cost Rs 2, 606.02 crore and be ready by May 2011, a far more realistic predictive frame than any other missile project under the indigenous IGMDP.
The defence sector does not have a policy for foreign direct investment, but DRDO open to joint ventures with foreign partners. No wonder then, that on June 7, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence said, “BrahMos model should be followed in other projects also. Private sector should be given more opportunities in defence production and user participation should be encouraged from R&D stage.”
-(Tomorrow: A prescription for DRDO reforms)
-Indian Express
DRDO opposes it but House panel underlines: you need outside audit
NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 27
The Defence Ministry strongly resisted it. The Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister discarded it as unnecessary. But the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence has now categorically rejected both views and recommended that the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) be brought under the audit scrutiny of an “independent and external” panel of experts to make sure that expensive and delayed defence projects don’t remain indefinitely adrift.
The report is scheduled to be tabled in the Budget session of Parliament.
In the report, compiled after detailed testimonies from the military top brass and independent experts over several months, the Standing Committee, chaired by Balasahib Vikhe Patil, has observed, “There is no scientific audit of DRDO projects as such. However, the DRDO has mechanism of feasibility study, design and technology evaluation, project peer review. The Committee observe that inspite of that, a large number of projects are showing inordinate delay and escalation of huge cost. The Committee therefore recommends that in addition to existing audit system, DRDO’s projects must also be audited by external and independent audit group of experts duly approved by the Government of India.”
It goes on to add, “The Committee is of the view that this will facilitate the government to check on the growing cost and time overrun of the DRDO projects and also to ascertain the accountability for the delay in execution of projects.”
In just 12 of the DRDO’s most critical projects — involving systems that the armed forces need more than any other, like missiles, fighters and theatre artillery — the organisation has exceeded sanctioned estimates by Rs 6, 013.43 crore in just the last 10 years, a figure greater than its current annual budget.
This recommendation comes after the Committee conducted a thorough review recently of the country’s most crucial defence programmes, including the integrated guided missile development programme (IGMDP), the Light Combat Aircraft, the Arjun main battle tank, the Kaveri jet engine and concurrent engineering.
On November 16, as part of an investigative series on the DRDO’s delay and mismanagement, The Indian Express had reported on how the Defence Ministry had failed to act on a crucial point raised by the Vijay Kelkar committee, recommending that DRDO’s functioning as a research body needed to be under the purview of a panel of independent experts.
In fact, on the day before the report was published, Comptroller & Auditor General (C&AG) VN Kaul said at a defence economics seminar, “Defence R&D is an area where accountability often takes shelter under the policy of self reliance, and indigenization becomes a reason for delay... accountability of domestic R&D organizations needs to be re-emphasized to enable better assessment of return from investment. Sensitizing of the defence services to the role of public audit is essential.”
This is precisely what the Committee has now called for, virtually thrusting aside DRDO’s own contention that “accountability cannot be fixed for loss of time in projects”.
The Committee has observed, “Keeping in view the disappointing performance of DRDO, the Committee strongly recommends to the government the complete review of the functioning and structure of DRDO... by appointing an independent committee of experts/professionals, on the lines of AEC and ISRO” and said that DRDO “cannot absolve itself” from the responsibility for inordinate delay.
“The delays cause suspicion on the capability of DRDO in the eyes of the users and other nations of the world,” it says in its report.
Following The Indian Express series, Kelkar was called in by the Standing Committee last week to expand on the observation he had made 21 months ago as part of his overall recommendations on reforming defence procurement. For the Committee, this was absolutely against what DRDO itself had said in testimony on January 2: “DRDO has enough audit and reviews of the projects at various stages. It is not considered necessary to introduce additional audit and reviews.”
-Indian Express
The Defence Ministry strongly resisted it. The Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister discarded it as unnecessary. But the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence has now categorically rejected both views and recommended that the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) be brought under the audit scrutiny of an “independent and external” panel of experts to make sure that expensive and delayed defence projects don’t remain indefinitely adrift.
The report is scheduled to be tabled in the Budget session of Parliament.
In the report, compiled after detailed testimonies from the military top brass and independent experts over several months, the Standing Committee, chaired by Balasahib Vikhe Patil, has observed, “There is no scientific audit of DRDO projects as such. However, the DRDO has mechanism of feasibility study, design and technology evaluation, project peer review. The Committee observe that inspite of that, a large number of projects are showing inordinate delay and escalation of huge cost. The Committee therefore recommends that in addition to existing audit system, DRDO’s projects must also be audited by external and independent audit group of experts duly approved by the Government of India.”
It goes on to add, “The Committee is of the view that this will facilitate the government to check on the growing cost and time overrun of the DRDO projects and also to ascertain the accountability for the delay in execution of projects.”
In just 12 of the DRDO’s most critical projects — involving systems that the armed forces need more than any other, like missiles, fighters and theatre artillery — the organisation has exceeded sanctioned estimates by Rs 6, 013.43 crore in just the last 10 years, a figure greater than its current annual budget.
This recommendation comes after the Committee conducted a thorough review recently of the country’s most crucial defence programmes, including the integrated guided missile development programme (IGMDP), the Light Combat Aircraft, the Arjun main battle tank, the Kaveri jet engine and concurrent engineering.
On November 16, as part of an investigative series on the DRDO’s delay and mismanagement, The Indian Express had reported on how the Defence Ministry had failed to act on a crucial point raised by the Vijay Kelkar committee, recommending that DRDO’s functioning as a research body needed to be under the purview of a panel of independent experts.
In fact, on the day before the report was published, Comptroller & Auditor General (C&AG) VN Kaul said at a defence economics seminar, “Defence R&D is an area where accountability often takes shelter under the policy of self reliance, and indigenization becomes a reason for delay... accountability of domestic R&D organizations needs to be re-emphasized to enable better assessment of return from investment. Sensitizing of the defence services to the role of public audit is essential.”
This is precisely what the Committee has now called for, virtually thrusting aside DRDO’s own contention that “accountability cannot be fixed for loss of time in projects”.
The Committee has observed, “Keeping in view the disappointing performance of DRDO, the Committee strongly recommends to the government the complete review of the functioning and structure of DRDO... by appointing an independent committee of experts/professionals, on the lines of AEC and ISRO” and said that DRDO “cannot absolve itself” from the responsibility for inordinate delay.
“The delays cause suspicion on the capability of DRDO in the eyes of the users and other nations of the world,” it says in its report.
Following The Indian Express series, Kelkar was called in by the Standing Committee last week to expand on the observation he had made 21 months ago as part of his overall recommendations on reforming defence procurement. For the Committee, this was absolutely against what DRDO itself had said in testimony on January 2: “DRDO has enough audit and reviews of the projects at various stages. It is not considered necessary to introduce additional audit and reviews.”
-Indian Express
DRDO delays: Antony for accountability, checks
Govt orders review, revamp of DRDO, forms expert panel |
NEW DELHI, JANUARY 18
Rejecting the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO)’s assertion that its internal workings are adequately monitored, the Government has set up an independent and external committee of experts to conduct a comprehensive review of the DRDO and produce a report by the end of this year to suggest how the organisation be made more efficient and professional. The dismal track record of the DRDO, highlighted by The Indian Express through a series of investigative reports in November last year, had found an echo in Parliament with Defence Minister A K Antony promising a new system of accountability to keep delays and cost over-runs in check. The eight-member committee has been asked to conduct a thorough review of DRDO’s administrative, financial and personnel procedures and audits of scientific research work undertaken by the organisation’s laboratories. It will keep tabs on whether the interests of armed forces are being served, monitor time and cost overruns of weapons programmes, draw a roadmap for synergy with private industry and foreign consultants, and recommend strategies on utilising offsets that will now be part of all foreign weapons contracts. Committee chairperson, Professor P Rama Rao, a former Secretary at the Department of Science & Technology and currently Dr Brahm Prakash distinguished professor at the ISRO, told The Indian Express from Hyderabad: “I will begin applying my mind on the task as soon as the government letter reaches me.” The other committee members are former financial advisor at the Defence Ministry A K Ghosh, former HAL chairman Dr Krishnadas Nair, Samtel Group chairman Satish Kaura and Professor T P Ghoshal from Jadavpur University. The three representatives from the armed forces, all retired, are former DG Artillery Lt Gen C S Cheema, former IAF vice-chief Air Marshal Ajit Bhavnani and Vice-Admiral Pravesh Jaitly, formerly the Navy’s chief of materials. With the creation of this committee, the Defence Ministry has finally acted upon a crucial recommendation made by the Vijay Kelkar committee almost two years ago, that DRDO’s functioning as a research body needed to be under the purview of a panel of independent experts. The committee’s mandate is significant considering that the DRDO, last year told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence that it had adequate audit mechanisms and did not consider it necessary to add another. | |
| -Indian Express |
Under
pressure from the government to introduce more unambiguous targets for
indigenous weapons projects, M Natarajan, chief of Defence Research
& Development Organisation (DRDO), has for the first time ordered
the directors of all 50 of the organisation's laboratories to urgently
bring out clear-cut business development plans.
The idea of creating individual business roadmaps came after the recent discussions between the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) and the DRDO. The Defence Ministry will use the business development plans as new, straightforward benchmarks to track DRDO's overall performance, particularly its contribution to the country's "self-reliance index", currently at a dismal 30 per cent.
"The business plan from each lab would shape the choice of projects consistent with user's requirements and in conformity with the aspirations and capabilities of DRDO laboratories," Natarajan has said in a letter to all DRDO staff. The 50 individual plans are to be finalised shortly.
Following an eight-part investigative series in this newspaper in November last year on the delays and cost escalation that have afflicted almost all DRDO projects, the government constituted an eight-member independent panel last month to report on its procedural, administrative and financial flaws.
The panel has already begun work on a comprehensive report that it will deliver to the Defence Ministry later this year.
"I am confident our senior scientists together with the younger lot will continually keep changing in tune with the needs of the time," Natarajan said in his letter, adding, "It must be appreciated that products like aircraft, battle tanks, electronic warfare systems, strategic and tactical missile systems and submarines can only be realised through the sustained efforts of highly dedicated team of scientists, engineers, technical staff and technicians."
Natarajan went on to point out that 2007 would not only involve "efforts on technology transfer and production of MBT Arjun, Akash, Nag and possibly, Trishul", but also new areas such as unmanned aerial vehicles, advanced radar systems and sensors.
- See more at: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/drdo-chief-moots-biz-plans-to-hike-efficiency---------/23168/#sthash.JkxBsXD4.dpuf
The idea of creating individual business roadmaps came after the recent discussions between the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) and the DRDO. The Defence Ministry will use the business development plans as new, straightforward benchmarks to track DRDO's overall performance, particularly its contribution to the country's "self-reliance index", currently at a dismal 30 per cent.
"The business plan from each lab would shape the choice of projects consistent with user's requirements and in conformity with the aspirations and capabilities of DRDO laboratories," Natarajan has said in a letter to all DRDO staff. The 50 individual plans are to be finalised shortly.
Following an eight-part investigative series in this newspaper in November last year on the delays and cost escalation that have afflicted almost all DRDO projects, the government constituted an eight-member independent panel last month to report on its procedural, administrative and financial flaws.
The panel has already begun work on a comprehensive report that it will deliver to the Defence Ministry later this year.
"I am confident our senior scientists together with the younger lot will continually keep changing in tune with the needs of the time," Natarajan said in his letter, adding, "It must be appreciated that products like aircraft, battle tanks, electronic warfare systems, strategic and tactical missile systems and submarines can only be realised through the sustained efforts of highly dedicated team of scientists, engineers, technical staff and technicians."
Natarajan went on to point out that 2007 would not only involve "efforts on technology transfer and production of MBT Arjun, Akash, Nag and possibly, Trishul", but also new areas such as unmanned aerial vehicles, advanced radar systems and sensors.
- See more at: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/drdo-chief-moots-biz-plans-to-hike-efficiency---------/23168/#sthash.JkxBsXD4.dpuf
Under
pressure from the government to introduce more unambiguous targets for
indigenous weapons projects, M Natarajan, chief of Defence Research
& Development Organisation (DRDO), has for the first time ordered
the directors of all 50 of the organisation's laboratories to urgently
bring out clear-cut business development plans.
The idea of creating individual business roadmaps came after the recent discussions between the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) and the DRDO. The Defence Ministry will use the business development plans as new, straightforward benchmarks to track DRDO's overall performance, particularly its contribution to the country's "self-reliance index", currently at a dismal 30 per cent.
"The business plan from each lab would shape the choice of projects consistent with user's requirements and in conformity with the aspirations and capabilities of DRDO laboratories," Natarajan has said in a letter to all DRDO staff. The 50 individual plans are to be finalised shortly.
Following an eight-part investigative series in this newspaper in November last year on the delays and cost escalation that have afflicted almost all DRDO projects, the government constituted an eight-member independent panel last month to report on its procedural, administrative and financial flaws.
The panel has already begun work on a comprehensive report that it will deliver to the Defence Ministry later this year.
"I am confident our senior scientists together with the younger lot will continually keep changing in tune with the needs of the time," Natarajan said in his letter, adding, "It must be appreciated that products like aircraft, battle tanks, electronic warfare systems, strategic and tactical missile systems and submarines can only be realised through the sustained efforts of highly dedicated team of scientists, engineers, technical staff and technicians."
Natarajan went on to point out that 2007 would not only involve "efforts on technology transfer and production of MBT Arjun, Akash, Nag and possibly, Trishul", but also new areas such as unmanned aerial vehicles, advanced radar systems and sensors.
- See more at: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/drdo-chief-moots-biz-plans-to-hike-efficiency---------/23168/#sthash.JkxBsXD4.dpuf
The idea of creating individual business roadmaps came after the recent discussions between the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) and the DRDO. The Defence Ministry will use the business development plans as new, straightforward benchmarks to track DRDO's overall performance, particularly its contribution to the country's "self-reliance index", currently at a dismal 30 per cent.
"The business plan from each lab would shape the choice of projects consistent with user's requirements and in conformity with the aspirations and capabilities of DRDO laboratories," Natarajan has said in a letter to all DRDO staff. The 50 individual plans are to be finalised shortly.
Following an eight-part investigative series in this newspaper in November last year on the delays and cost escalation that have afflicted almost all DRDO projects, the government constituted an eight-member independent panel last month to report on its procedural, administrative and financial flaws.
The panel has already begun work on a comprehensive report that it will deliver to the Defence Ministry later this year.
"I am confident our senior scientists together with the younger lot will continually keep changing in tune with the needs of the time," Natarajan said in his letter, adding, "It must be appreciated that products like aircraft, battle tanks, electronic warfare systems, strategic and tactical missile systems and submarines can only be realised through the sustained efforts of highly dedicated team of scientists, engineers, technical staff and technicians."
Natarajan went on to point out that 2007 would not only involve "efforts on technology transfer and production of MBT Arjun, Akash, Nag and possibly, Trishul", but also new areas such as unmanned aerial vehicles, advanced radar systems and sensors.
- See more at: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/drdo-chief-moots-biz-plans-to-hike-efficiency---------/23168/#sthash.JkxBsXD4.dpuf
Under
pressure from the government to introduce more unambiguous targets for
indigenous weapons projects, M Natarajan, chief of Defence Research
& Development Organisation (DRDO), has for the first time ordered
the directors of all 50 of the organisation's laboratories to urgently
bring out clear-cut business development plans.
The idea of creating individual business roadmaps came after the recent discussions between the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) and the DRDO. The Defence Ministry will use the business development plans as new, straightforward benchmarks to track DRDO's overall performance, particularly its contribution to the country's "self-reliance index", currently at a dismal 30 per cent.
"The business plan from each lab would shape the choice of projects consistent with user's requirements and in conformity with the aspirations and capabilities of DRDO laboratories," Natarajan has said in a letter to all DRDO staff. The 50 individual plans are to be finalised shortly.
Following an eight-part investigative series in this newspaper in November last year on the delays and cost escalation that have afflicted almost all DRDO projects, the government constituted an eight-member independent panel last month to report on its procedural, administrative and financial flaws.
The panel has already begun work on a comprehensive report that it will deliver to the Defence Ministry later this year.
"I am confident our senior scientists together with the younger lot will continually keep changing in tune with the needs of the time," Natarajan said in his letter, adding, "It must be appreciated that products like aircraft, battle tanks, electronic warfare systems, strategic and tactical missile systems and submarines can only be realised through the sustained efforts of highly dedicated team of scientists, engineers, technical staff and technicians."
Natarajan went on to point out that 2007 would not only involve "efforts on technology transfer and production of MBT Arjun, Akash, Nag and possibly, Trishul", but also new areas such as unmanned aerial vehicles, advanced radar systems and sensors.
- See more at: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/drdo-chief-moots-biz-plans-to-hike-efficiency---------/23168/#sthash.JkxBsXD4.dpuf
The idea of creating individual business roadmaps came after the recent discussions between the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) and the DRDO. The Defence Ministry will use the business development plans as new, straightforward benchmarks to track DRDO's overall performance, particularly its contribution to the country's "self-reliance index", currently at a dismal 30 per cent.
"The business plan from each lab would shape the choice of projects consistent with user's requirements and in conformity with the aspirations and capabilities of DRDO laboratories," Natarajan has said in a letter to all DRDO staff. The 50 individual plans are to be finalised shortly.
Following an eight-part investigative series in this newspaper in November last year on the delays and cost escalation that have afflicted almost all DRDO projects, the government constituted an eight-member independent panel last month to report on its procedural, administrative and financial flaws.
The panel has already begun work on a comprehensive report that it will deliver to the Defence Ministry later this year.
"I am confident our senior scientists together with the younger lot will continually keep changing in tune with the needs of the time," Natarajan said in his letter, adding, "It must be appreciated that products like aircraft, battle tanks, electronic warfare systems, strategic and tactical missile systems and submarines can only be realised through the sustained efforts of highly dedicated team of scientists, engineers, technical staff and technicians."
Natarajan went on to point out that 2007 would not only involve "efforts on technology transfer and production of MBT Arjun, Akash, Nag and possibly, Trishul", but also new areas such as unmanned aerial vehicles, advanced radar systems and sensors.
- See more at: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/drdo-chief-moots-biz-plans-to-hike-efficiency---------/23168/#sthash.JkxBsXD4.dpuf
Under
pressure from the government to introduce more unambiguous targets for
indigenous weapons projects, M Natarajan, chief of Defence Research
& Development Organisation (DRDO), has for the first time ordered
the directors of all 50 of the organisation's laboratories to urgently
bring out clear-cut business development plans.
The idea of creating individual business roadmaps came after the recent discussions between the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) and the DRDO. The Defence Ministry will use the business development plans as new, straightforward benchmarks to track DRDO's overall performance, particularly its contribution to the country's "self-reliance index", currently at a dismal 30 per cent.
"The business plan from each lab would shape the choice of projects consistent with user's requirements and in conformity with the aspirations and capabilities of DRDO laboratories," Natarajan has said in a letter to all DRDO staff. The 50 individual plans are to be finalised shortly.
Following an eight-part investigative series in this newspaper in November last year on the delays and cost escalation that have afflicted almost all DRDO projects, the government constituted an eight-member independent panel last month to report on its procedural, administrative and financial flaws.
The panel has already begun work on a comprehensive report that it will deliver to the Defence Ministry later this year.
"I am confident our senior scientists together with the younger lot will continually keep changing in tune with the needs of the time," Natarajan said in his letter, adding, "It must be appreciated that products like aircraft, battle tanks, electronic warfare systems, strategic and tactical missile systems and submarines can only be realised through the sustained efforts of highly dedicated team of scientists, engineers, technical staff and technicians."
Natarajan went on to point out that 2007 would not only involve "efforts on technology transfer and production of MBT Arjun, Akash, Nag and possibly, Trishul", but also new areas such as unmanned aerial vehicles, advanced radar systems and sensors.
- See more at: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/drdo-chief-moots-biz-plans-to-hike-efficiency---------/23168/#sthash.JkxBsXD4.dpuf
The idea of creating individual business roadmaps came after the recent discussions between the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) and the DRDO. The Defence Ministry will use the business development plans as new, straightforward benchmarks to track DRDO's overall performance, particularly its contribution to the country's "self-reliance index", currently at a dismal 30 per cent.
"The business plan from each lab would shape the choice of projects consistent with user's requirements and in conformity with the aspirations and capabilities of DRDO laboratories," Natarajan has said in a letter to all DRDO staff. The 50 individual plans are to be finalised shortly.
Following an eight-part investigative series in this newspaper in November last year on the delays and cost escalation that have afflicted almost all DRDO projects, the government constituted an eight-member independent panel last month to report on its procedural, administrative and financial flaws.
The panel has already begun work on a comprehensive report that it will deliver to the Defence Ministry later this year.
"I am confident our senior scientists together with the younger lot will continually keep changing in tune with the needs of the time," Natarajan said in his letter, adding, "It must be appreciated that products like aircraft, battle tanks, electronic warfare systems, strategic and tactical missile systems and submarines can only be realised through the sustained efforts of highly dedicated team of scientists, engineers, technical staff and technicians."
Natarajan went on to point out that 2007 would not only involve "efforts on technology transfer and production of MBT Arjun, Akash, Nag and possibly, Trishul", but also new areas such as unmanned aerial vehicles, advanced radar systems and sensors.
- See more at: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/drdo-chief-moots-biz-plans-to-hike-efficiency---------/23168/#sthash.JkxBsXD4.dpuf
Under
pressure from the government to introduce more unambiguous targets for
indigenous weapons projects, M Natarajan, chief of Defence Research
& Development Organisation (DRDO), has for the first time ordered
the directors of all 50 of the organisation's laboratories to urgently
bring out clear-cut business development plans.
The idea of creating individual business roadmaps came after the recent discussions between the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) and the DRDO. The Defence Ministry will use the business development plans as new, straightforward benchmarks to track DRDO's overall performance, particularly its contribution to the country's "self-reliance index", currently at a dismal 30 per cent.
"The business plan from each lab would shape the choice of projects consistent with user's requirements and in conformity with the aspirations and capabilities of DRDO laboratories," Natarajan has said in a letter to all DRDO staff. The 50 individual plans are to be finalised shortly.
Following an eight-part investigative series in this newspaper in November last year on the delays and cost escalation that have afflicted almost all DRDO projects, the government constituted an eight-member independent panel last month to report on its procedural, administrative and financial flaws.
The panel has already begun work on a comprehensive report that it will deliver to the Defence Ministry later this year.
"I am confident our senior scientists together with the younger lot will continually keep changing in tune with the needs of the time," Natarajan said in his letter, adding, "It must be appreciated that products like aircraft, battle tanks, electronic warfare systems, strategic and tactical missile systems and submarines can only be realised through the sustained efforts of highly dedicated team of scientists, engineers, technical staff and technicians."
Natarajan went on to point out that 2007 would not only involve "efforts on technology transfer and production of MBT Arjun, Akash, Nag and possibly, Trishul", but also new areas such as unmanned aerial vehicles, advanced radar systems and sensors.
- See more at: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/drdo-chief-moots-biz-plans-to-hike-efficiency---------/23168/#sthash.JkxBsXD4.dpuf
The idea of creating individual business roadmaps came after the recent discussions between the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) and the DRDO. The Defence Ministry will use the business development plans as new, straightforward benchmarks to track DRDO's overall performance, particularly its contribution to the country's "self-reliance index", currently at a dismal 30 per cent.
"The business plan from each lab would shape the choice of projects consistent with user's requirements and in conformity with the aspirations and capabilities of DRDO laboratories," Natarajan has said in a letter to all DRDO staff. The 50 individual plans are to be finalised shortly.
Following an eight-part investigative series in this newspaper in November last year on the delays and cost escalation that have afflicted almost all DRDO projects, the government constituted an eight-member independent panel last month to report on its procedural, administrative and financial flaws.
The panel has already begun work on a comprehensive report that it will deliver to the Defence Ministry later this year.
"I am confident our senior scientists together with the younger lot will continually keep changing in tune with the needs of the time," Natarajan said in his letter, adding, "It must be appreciated that products like aircraft, battle tanks, electronic warfare systems, strategic and tactical missile systems and submarines can only be realised through the sustained efforts of highly dedicated team of scientists, engineers, technical staff and technicians."
Natarajan went on to point out that 2007 would not only involve "efforts on technology transfer and production of MBT Arjun, Akash, Nag and possibly, Trishul", but also new areas such as unmanned aerial vehicles, advanced radar systems and sensors.
- See more at: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/drdo-chief-moots-biz-plans-to-hike-efficiency---------/23168/#sthash.JkxBsXD4.dpuf
Under
pressure from the government to introduce more unambiguous targets for
indigenous weapons projects, M Natarajan, chief of Defence Research
& Development Organisation (DRDO), has for the first time ordered
the directors of all 50 of the organisation's laboratories to urgently
bring out clear-cut business development plans.
The idea of creating individual business roadmaps came after the recent discussions between the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) and the DRDO. The Defence Ministry will use the business development plans as new, straightforward benchmarks to track DRDO's overall performance, particularly its contribution to the country's "self-reliance index", currently at a dismal 30 per cent.
"The business plan from each lab would shape the choice of projects consistent with user's requirements and in conformity with the aspirations and capabilities of DRDO laboratories," Natarajan has said in a letter to all DRDO staff. The 50 individual plans are to be finalised shortly.
Following an eight-part investigative series in this newspaper in November last year on the delays and cost escalation that have afflicted almost all DRDO projects, the government constituted an eight-member independent panel last month to report on its procedural, administrative and financial flaws.
The panel has already begun work on a comprehensive report that it will deliver to the Defence Ministry later this year.
"I am confident our senior scientists together with the younger lot will continually keep changing in tune with the needs of the time," Natarajan said in his letter, adding, "It must be appreciated that products like aircraft, battle tanks, electronic warfare systems, strategic and tactical missile systems and submarines can only be realised through the sustained efforts of highly dedicated team of scientists, engineers, technical staff and technicians."
Natarajan went on to point out that 2007 would not only involve "efforts on technology transfer and production of MBT Arjun, Akash, Nag and possibly, Trishul", but also new areas such as unmanned aerial vehicles, advanced radar systems and sensors.
- See more at: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/drdo-chief-moots-biz-plans-to-hike-efficiency---------/23168/#sthash.JkxBsXD4.dpuf
The idea of creating individual business roadmaps came after the recent discussions between the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) and the DRDO. The Defence Ministry will use the business development plans as new, straightforward benchmarks to track DRDO's overall performance, particularly its contribution to the country's "self-reliance index", currently at a dismal 30 per cent.
"The business plan from each lab would shape the choice of projects consistent with user's requirements and in conformity with the aspirations and capabilities of DRDO laboratories," Natarajan has said in a letter to all DRDO staff. The 50 individual plans are to be finalised shortly.
Following an eight-part investigative series in this newspaper in November last year on the delays and cost escalation that have afflicted almost all DRDO projects, the government constituted an eight-member independent panel last month to report on its procedural, administrative and financial flaws.
The panel has already begun work on a comprehensive report that it will deliver to the Defence Ministry later this year.
"I am confident our senior scientists together with the younger lot will continually keep changing in tune with the needs of the time," Natarajan said in his letter, adding, "It must be appreciated that products like aircraft, battle tanks, electronic warfare systems, strategic and tactical missile systems and submarines can only be realised through the sustained efforts of highly dedicated team of scientists, engineers, technical staff and technicians."
Natarajan went on to point out that 2007 would not only involve "efforts on technology transfer and production of MBT Arjun, Akash, Nag and possibly, Trishul", but also new areas such as unmanned aerial vehicles, advanced radar systems and sensors.
- See more at: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/drdo-chief-moots-biz-plans-to-hike-efficiency---------/23168/#sthash.JkxBsXD4.dpuf
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