Big purge at DRDO as new order rises

[Major Shaitan Singh]

The Narendra Modi government has attempted the biggest ever purge in the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), superseding the entire top rung of India's defence scientists.
The appointments on Thursday of Dr S. Christopher to the helm of the defence research behemoth, and of Dr G.S. Reddy as the scientific advisor to the Defence Minister sent shock waves through the moribund though crucial organisation, and also signalled a generational shift in the establishment which is critical to indigenising the combat capability of India's armed forces.

Those overlooked included not only Christopher's and Reddy's immediate bosses, Dr S. Tamilmani and Dr V.G. Sekharan — the apex scientists for aeronautics and strategic missile systems respectively — but the entire lot of six DRDO directors-general who were heading seven research clusters and who collectively comprised the top defence research leadership after the unceremonious ouster of Dr Avinash Chander as DRDO chief in January.

Among the directors-general passed over are Dr V. Bhujanga Rao (Naval Systems and Materials), A.M. Datar (Armaments and Combat Engineering), Dr Keshav Nayak (Electronics, Computers and Communications Systems) and Dr M.K. Mandal (Life Sciences) (see box). Two other top mainstream scientists who were functioning as chief controllers at DRDO headquarters have also been superseded. Significantly, all but one of the top notch scientists were on extended tenures post-retirement.
The mass supersessions are a clear indication that the leadership at the technology cluster level will also be completely recast, and the cozy club arrangement with extended tenures in the DRDO higher echelons may have ended with this shock therapy, meant to kick-start reforms. The DRDO has faced tremendous flak from the armed forces for time and cost over-runs in developing key weapons.

The scientific community is still absorbing the sudden impact of the shock-and-awe treatment. "It's a clear message that the government wants a generational shift, and scientists under the age of 60 to comprise the leadership at DRDO," says Dr A. Sivathanu Pillai, formerly the head of the strategic missiles and Brahmos programmes. At age 52, Reddy is a comparative youngster in the DRDO. Implicit in the move is the message that while a younger generation of scientists has been put in charge of defence research, and will be tested with higher levels of accountability.

Christopher and Reddy figured in the third-rung leadership of the DRDO at the time when Dr Avinash Chander was removed from the helm four months ago. Christopher, a radar specialist and electronics engineer, was the director for the Bangalore-based Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), where he led the Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) programme. Missile scientist Reddy was director of the Hyderabad-based IMARAT missile research centre, and programme director of the key Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) being jointly developed with Israel. Significantly, both the AEW&C and MRSAM projects are running late with accompanying cost overruns.

Still, the move has created optimism in the armed forces. Reflecting their view is Air Chief Marshal Fali Major, the former Chief of Air Staff. "It's about time the old-timers went. They are used to long tenures traditionally, which is also reflected in their lack of hurry in delivering on time. They haven't changed in years. The youngsters are good," he said. In a deliver-or-perish signal, Christopher and Reddy have been given two-year tenures, much shorter than traditional durations enjoyed at the top.

Major said this generational shift is also a great opportunity for the DRDO to refocus and reorient its research. "They should stop attempting to do everything. The IAF is acquiring platforms like the Rafale jets and the Fifth Generation Fighters, which will have a 30-year life. The DRDO should focus on niche technologies which will be required 30 years hence. Like smart weapons, nano-technologies, artificial intelligence and counter-cyber know-how," he suggested, decrying the DRDO's tendency to get involved in everything from mosquito repellents to dental implants, missile systems and nuclear submarines.

As far back as 2008, the Rama Rao Committee had recommended that the DRDO, which runs 50 labs, focus only on about 10 critical technologies. Key proposals of this committee are gathering dust.
Both Christopher and Reddy will have to hit the ground running, although there will be greater onus for delivery on the former. Earlier, their roles were bundled into one omnibus appointment. Now, the government has split these roles and created a split leadership for the defence research establishment. The intention is to ensure that the Defence Minister gets more objective and independent feedback on DRDO performance, and to minimise incestuous tasking and appraisal from within the pool of DRDO scientists.