I am a huge supporter of indigenous weapons and fan of many DRDO scientists and met many of them. I understand the sysrem's fault lines and issues. I am against importing any weapons also. So what is the solution? Rectify the problem. There is no point in inducging outdated weapons.
If we do not acknowledge the issues wirh DRDO/HAL, there will not be much progress in Indian contents in the armed forces.
Ultimately DRDO HAL were made for Armed forces, not vice versa. We need weapon systems of certain calibers to fight China and if DRDO takes decades for even introduing the system, thn India will lose.
WC Abhinandan should have been flying Tejas not Mig-21. Whose fault is that?
Glad to hear that you do indeed support indigenous weapons.
The confusion arose because
I believe that quite a few of the members thought that your poster for @Anirududha Mulay was not very appropriate. It was almost like making fun of the observation by the member. Almost going personal.
Nothing wrong in rooting for iterative development for accepting indigenous weapons. It is a fact that most Staff Qualitative Requirements are very demanding and ambitious, formulated without realistically assessing the current capabilities available in the country. Probably influenced by the specifications of similar products of the Western Arms MNC conglomerates.
Asking the Armed Forces to accept slightly below specification indigenous weapons is not an anti national act. Nobody is asking them to buy grossly inferior weapons. As long as the developer and the manufacturer promise to improve the weapon system in its mk2 version. Within an acceptable time frame. Adequate numbers should be bought to make its manufacture viable.
It is a kind of favoritism and hand holding of indigenous industry. If we don't encourage Indian R&D and Indian industry then who will.
Now most people recognise that there are serious problems with the running of the DRDO. Their success rate is low. I would be happy if even 50% of the projects undertaken reach fruition.As a first step. Leading to the development and manufacture of acceptable quality products and services. Production should be done in the private sector also(min 50%).
By all means reform the DRDO /OFB to increase the efficiency. Nobody is against it.
High performance scientists should receive adequate monetary rewards. Fast track promotions. Similarly those PSU production units which deliver very good quality weapons should be rewarded. Give performance bonuses to the staff of those units.
Meritocracy should win. Mediocrity should be not be encouraged.
This is not an attempt to support the Public Sector. If an private sector company can produce an weapon system with better quality and adhered to timelines and cost effectiveness then the first preference should be given to such a company.
Who really cares if a weapon is produced by a Government Company or a Private Indian company. As long as they are designed, developed and manufactured in India. Nothing wrong even if all defence production shifts to the private sector.
But production of strategic weapons including nuclear weapons should remain with the Government. Undoubtedly. For national security reasons.
But I guess people would expect the private sector to invest adequately in R&D.
Innovate. Not just licensed production. Provide competition to the Global Defence Giants. Become Indian defence MNC's.
