david blain
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DHAMRA (Odhisa): A university in Kolkata is helping the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) develop a high power microwave as a futuristic weapon.
The defence research unit has also tied-up with IIT, Chennai for seven projects. With Indian universities finally becoming research partners, DRDO R&D chief W Selvamurthy feels confident of timely completion of projects.
DRDO has taken over an entire floor at IIT, Chennai for joint research. "This used to happen abroad. Now, Indian universities have also come of age and are tying up with us in several projects. We are now looking at futuristic research on projects like an unmanned battlefield - on land, in air and under water and working on high-power lasers and microwave as weapons. We are trying to develop the 'global soldier' who can operate in any battlefield across the world. We are also concentrating on stealth technology and satellite-based security systems," Selvamurthy told TOI.
He believes that projects undertaken by DRDO may not have got delayed had Indian industry and universities provided necessary support earlier. "Unlike what people believe, there has been no delay on DRDO's part. Our 7,600 scientists conceptualised, designed and then built products as industry had not developed sufficiently then. In other countries like USA, industry takes over soon after a project has been conceptualised. Even Universities provide necessary assistance in research. This is slowly happening in India now. The General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQR) was finalised in 1985 and by 1993, we had the first prototype ready. There were additions and alterations to be made and we succeeded in developing the Mark-II in two years time. Now, the Army agrees that Arjun is better than the Russian-made T-90," the top scientist said.
He claims that DRDO took only 15 years in developing a fourth-generation aircraft like the Tejas from scratch while the Eurofighter has not yet been fully developed, even after 22 years. According to him, this is a normal life-cycle development period. "Now that Tejas has gone into production, we are already discussing an Advanced Middle Combat Aircraft (AMCA). We have worked with minimum resources. I have been to a submarine development unit in Russia where 20,000 scientists work. Our budget is also merely Rs 10,000 crore of which nearly half is spent on salaries and top-secret projects. Under the circumstances, there is little investment in R&D. These are aspects that need to be looked into as foreign arms suppliers are not keen that India develops indigenous capabilities," he said.
The DRDO won't give up on the Kaveri engine just as yet. One reason that Selvamurthy gives for not having succeeded in getting the Kaveri engines fitted to the Tejas is the absence of high-powered engine manufacturers in the country. Elsewhere, companies like GE and Rolls Royce manufacture engines for aircraft. Even the Tejas has had to fall back on GE engines. "We have managed to get 70 kilo Newton thrust out of the Kaveri engine. It has been tested for 55 hours on an IL-76. The Tejas requires a thrust of about 80 KNewtons. We shall try the engine on a Tejas and we believe that it will cover upto 80% flight envelop. We may use it for the trainers or even unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). There is also great possibility of use of the marine Kaveri engine," the DRDO R&D chief said. According to him, several foreign firms have expressed eagerness to partner with DRDO for an engine that can provide 130 KNewton thrust required for the AMCA. "In the last five years, the armed forces have ordered Rs 140,000 crore worth of equipment from us.
The same equipment would have cost thrice if procured from abroad. We have aided in employment generation. The confidence of the armed forces is going up everyday. Our weapons locating radars have proved to be better than those manufactured abroad. India's self-reliance ratio has now gone up to 50%. We need not be 100% self-reliant. Nobody is. The key should be to concentrate on critical and strategic defence systems and large volume items like clothing to save on unnecessary cash outflow," Selvamurthy added.
The defence research unit has also tied-up with IIT, Chennai for seven projects. With Indian universities finally becoming research partners, DRDO R&D chief W Selvamurthy feels confident of timely completion of projects.
DRDO has taken over an entire floor at IIT, Chennai for joint research. "This used to happen abroad. Now, Indian universities have also come of age and are tying up with us in several projects. We are now looking at futuristic research on projects like an unmanned battlefield - on land, in air and under water and working on high-power lasers and microwave as weapons. We are trying to develop the 'global soldier' who can operate in any battlefield across the world. We are also concentrating on stealth technology and satellite-based security systems," Selvamurthy told TOI.
He believes that projects undertaken by DRDO may not have got delayed had Indian industry and universities provided necessary support earlier. "Unlike what people believe, there has been no delay on DRDO's part. Our 7,600 scientists conceptualised, designed and then built products as industry had not developed sufficiently then. In other countries like USA, industry takes over soon after a project has been conceptualised. Even Universities provide necessary assistance in research. This is slowly happening in India now. The General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQR) was finalised in 1985 and by 1993, we had the first prototype ready. There were additions and alterations to be made and we succeeded in developing the Mark-II in two years time. Now, the Army agrees that Arjun is better than the Russian-made T-90," the top scientist said.
He claims that DRDO took only 15 years in developing a fourth-generation aircraft like the Tejas from scratch while the Eurofighter has not yet been fully developed, even after 22 years. According to him, this is a normal life-cycle development period. "Now that Tejas has gone into production, we are already discussing an Advanced Middle Combat Aircraft (AMCA). We have worked with minimum resources. I have been to a submarine development unit in Russia where 20,000 scientists work. Our budget is also merely Rs 10,000 crore of which nearly half is spent on salaries and top-secret projects. Under the circumstances, there is little investment in R&D. These are aspects that need to be looked into as foreign arms suppliers are not keen that India develops indigenous capabilities," he said.
The DRDO won't give up on the Kaveri engine just as yet. One reason that Selvamurthy gives for not having succeeded in getting the Kaveri engines fitted to the Tejas is the absence of high-powered engine manufacturers in the country. Elsewhere, companies like GE and Rolls Royce manufacture engines for aircraft. Even the Tejas has had to fall back on GE engines. "We have managed to get 70 kilo Newton thrust out of the Kaveri engine. It has been tested for 55 hours on an IL-76. The Tejas requires a thrust of about 80 KNewtons. We shall try the engine on a Tejas and we believe that it will cover upto 80% flight envelop. We may use it for the trainers or even unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). There is also great possibility of use of the marine Kaveri engine," the DRDO R&D chief said. According to him, several foreign firms have expressed eagerness to partner with DRDO for an engine that can provide 130 KNewton thrust required for the AMCA. "In the last five years, the armed forces have ordered Rs 140,000 crore worth of equipment from us.
The same equipment would have cost thrice if procured from abroad. We have aided in employment generation. The confidence of the armed forces is going up everyday. Our weapons locating radars have proved to be better than those manufactured abroad. India's self-reliance ratio has now gone up to 50%. We need not be 100% self-reliant. Nobody is. The key should be to concentrate on critical and strategic defence systems and large volume items like clothing to save on unnecessary cash outflow," Selvamurthy added.
