DRDO, PSU and Private Defence Sector News

[nitesh]

http://frontierindia.net/assocham-wants-single-offset-authority-for-defence-contracts

 

[nitesh]

http://www.pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=71788
US Firm Signs Pact to Acquire DRDO'S Technology for Explosive Detection Kit

A USA based firm Crowe & Company, LLC has entered into a licensing agreement with DRDO to acquire the technology of Explosive Detection Kit developed by the High Energy Material Research Lab (HEMRL), Pune, one of the constituent laboratories of DRDO. An MoU to the effect was signed by Dr. Subhananda Rao, Director HEMRL on behalf of DRDO, and Ms. Faye Crowe, President, Crowe & Company, LLC, USA here today.

HEMRL has developed the kit for quick detection and identification of explosives that can detect and identify explosives based on any combination of nitro esters, nitramines, trinitrotoluene (TNT), dynamite or black powder. The testing requires only 3 to 5 mg of suspected sample and only 3 or 4 drops of reagents. The explosive detection kit comes packed in a box the size of a vanity case and in miniature vials that can be kept in shirt pockets. It contains reagents capable of detecting explosives, even in extremely small, trace quantities.

 

[Patriot]

India Doesn't Have A Core Group On Unmanned Weapons. But Will Now.

A little baffled that we didn't already have one considering the number of unmanned vehicle programmes currently on. Anyway, India's DRDO will shortly be setting up a core group on unmanned vehicles/weapon systems, bringing together state-owned military laboratories, private industry and academic institutions to draw up dedicated policy and periodically monitor all Indian unmanned weapon programmes and institute public-private synergies where possible. The modalities and structure of the core group are likely to come up at a two day symposium in Pune on April 28-29, organised by the DRDO's R&DE(E) lab, known for its work on the Daksh UGV.

Future state-run programmes include UAVs Nishant-2, Rustom-H and AURA, an unmanned armoured personnel carrier, a remote controlled battle tank and an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV).

 

[Parthy]

Trials successful, Netra to enter production stage

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle(UAV) Netra developed by the Defence Research and Development (DRDO) will soon enter the production stage. Talking to Newsline, Alok Mukherjee, a senior scientist with the Research and Development Establishment (RnDE), a DRDO laboratory, said, "Netra has undergone successful trails and is soon expected to enter the production stage. Army as well as the paramilitary forces have shown keen interest in Netra."

He, however, refused to comment on the orders or the details of the same. Netra, which has a live video and a thermal imaging equipment, was tested in the naxal-affected areas of Chhatisgarh in view of their utility to fight naxal menace in these areas.

Netra along with various other unmanned vehicles and robots would be on display at the Symposium of Robotics and Unmanned Vehicles at the RnDE campus on April 28 and 29. The two- day event, one of its kinds in the recent times, is expected to demonstrate Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) such as Daksh, which is already in the production stage along with Takshak, a smaller version of Daksh used to detect and diffuse Improvised Explosive Device (IED). "One of the major attractions of the event would be two underwater vehicles, one developed by National Institute of Oceanology (NIO), Goa, and the other by C-DAC, Trivandrum," said Mukherjee.

The event, which will be inaugurated by Chief Controller of R&D, DRDO, Dr W Selvamurthy, will showcase the most fascinating products developed by industry and academia. While Iris, a small ball-like robot which can be used in anti-terrorist operations, will be demonstrated at the event, another attraction will be mole, a robot looking like a soft drink can. This can be used for videographing terror attacks like 26/11 incident. "It is a self-navigating robot, which can navigate self when thrown into the operational area," said Mukherjee. Another interesting watch is going to be a self righting robot that resembles a spider. Not only does it climb walls on its own, but also corrects its posture, in case it falls upside down.

The field of robotics and autonomous vehicles is gaining momentum globally. Development of unmanned vehicles, whether on ground, air or underwater, is a major domain. These systems are extensively used for reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition and for carrying out remote strikes. The symposium aims to bring together the users such as Army, Air Force, paramilitary, police forces along with R&D organisations such as DRDO, ISRO, BARC and academia, including IIT-Kanpur, IISc-Bengaluru, BITS-Pilanitry in order to synergise the efforts and accelerate development process," said Manish Bharadwaj, a scientist and regional spokesperson for the DRDO.



http://www.indianexpress.com/news/trials-successful-netra-to-enter-production-stage/782092/2

 

[nitesh]

worth reading full,

http://frontierindia.net/rdee-organises-golden-jubilee-symposium-on-robotics-and-autonomous-vehicles

 

[nitesh]

http://www.inewsone.com/2011/05/01/the-10bn-jet-fighter-deal-iaf-went-by-the-rule-book/47362

'The government will not accept any limitation (due to CISMOA) on the technology transfer. The US did take the DRDO off the entity list that restricted transfer of dual use technology by American firms. But that meant nothing because DRDO needs nothing from the Americans at present,' Jasjit Singh said.

 

[nitesh]

Helina to be ready for user trials by 2013

http://frontierindia.net/helina-air-to-surface-missile-to-be-ready-by-2013

 

[nitesh]

step in right direction

http://frontierindia.net/drdo-nstl-gets-computer-numeric-control-machine-centre
DRDO NTSL gets CNC centre

 

[nitesh]

wealth of information, good read:

http://drdo.gov.in/drdo/pub/techfocus/2011/TFApril2011.pdf

 

[nitesh]

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfe...-lauds-role-of-naval-research-lab/669785.html
Union Minister lauds role of naval research lab

With the setting up of the CNC centre, NSTL could manufacture equipment on its own and avoid procuring them outside, the Minister said. This facility would provide NSTL the ability to effectively deliver innovative and high quality products on time to meet various project requirements, he said.

 

[nitesh]

cross post:

DRDO trying to create tech base for 155mm gun

http://frontierindia.net/drdo-to-create-technology-base-for-possible-155-mm-artillery-gun-project

 

[nitesh]

Too early to gauge impact of removal from Entities'' list: DRDO, IBN Live News

New Delhi, May 8 (PTI) Months after the US removed DRDO along with other Indian firms from its sanctions list, the premier defence company says America's decision will have the desired results only if it liberally issues licenses for the export of dual use items. V K Saraswat, chief of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) which bore the brunt of the sanctions for decades, said he views positively the US step but feels it is too early to guage its impact. "On the face it, it (US decision) is a positive indicator but I have often said that merely removal of our firms from the Entities' list has done only one change that our name has gone from the denial list to the acceptance list,"

Commenting on the impact of nearly three decades of US sanctions on DRDO, Saraswat said the organisation had converted that "era of denial into opportunity" for creating building blocks of world class technology and in the process reducing dependence on imports. "While it was a troublesome and painful process, we converted it into an era of opportunity...Many of the technologies that were denied to us, we converted that sanctions era into opportunity," he said. The DRDO chief said in 16 years between 1989 to 2005, the country had started making electronic devices. "We make our own microprocessors and many materials which are used in missile development and our dependence of foreign countries also went down and our self-reliance index has gone up," he added.

 

[nitesh]

DRDO’s Scientist of the Year award for Guruprasad - Mumbai - DNA

As head of R&DE (E), Guruprasad is leading several important development projects in combat engineering, weapon launch systems, advanced composite products, nuclear, biological and chemical protection systems and robotic systems.

 

[nitesh]

DRDO’s Scientist of the Year award for Guruprasad - Mumbai - DNA

As head of R&DE (E), Guruprasad is leading several important development projects in combat engineering, weapon launch systems, advanced composite products, nuclear, biological and chemical protection systems and robotic systems.

 

[Patriot]

Too early to gauge impact of removal from Entities" list: DRDO

Months after the US removed DRDO along with other Indian firms from its sanctions list, the premier defence company says America's decision will have the desired results only if it liberally issues licenses for the export of dual use items. V K Saraswat, chief of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) which bore the brunt of the sanctions for decades, said he views positively the US step but feels it is too early to guage its impact.

"On the face it, it (US decision) is a positive indicator but I have often said that merely removal of our firms from the Entities' list has done only one change that our name has gone from the denial list to the acceptance list," he told PTI in an interview. He was responding when asked to comment on the US decision in January to remove nine Indian space and defence related companies such as DRDO and ISRO from its 'Entities List' of sanctions which barred such firms from importing any dual-use items from any American company. The US step, Saraswat said, "should help to improve obtaining hi-tech items by us from the US".

He, however, was guarded about the move translating into action, saying it is too early to say or gauge its impact because of the licencing process (in the US)." The DRDO chief noted that the legal process in the US mandated that any technology or item that has dual use cannot be given without licences. Observing that almost all the items required by the DRDO are of dual-use nature, he said the US should be liberal in delivering equipment and issuing licences when told that it would not be used for manufacturing of weapons. "When I say I am not using a particular item for weapons of mass destruction or nuclear weapons, then they (the US) should accept that and deliver that (item)," Saraswat said. He explained that many of the items can be used in weapon systems as well as extremely harmless substances like sporting goods. "Whether we use a computing or communication device or a carbon-made tennis racket, they are all dual use items and they all require licences," he said. Commenting on the impact of nearly three decades of US sanctions on DRDO, Saraswat said the organisation had converted that "era of denial into opportunity" for creating building blocks of world class technology and in the process reducing dependence on imports.

"While it was a troublesome and painful process, we converted it into an era of opportunity"¦Many of the technologies that were denied to us, we converted that sanctions era into opportunity," he said. The DRDO chief said in 16 years between 1989 to 2005, the country had started making electronic devices. "We make our own microprocessors and many materials which are used in missile development and our dependence of foreign countries also went down and our self-reliance index has gone up," he added

 

[nitesh]

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gene...s/awx/2011/05/10/awx_05_10_2011_p0-320835.xml

"Augmentation projects worth about 10 billion rupees ($224 million) [for] mine-protected vehicles, armored vehicle engines, T-72 tank variants [and] spares for T-72 overhauls are being executed," a defense ministry official says.

In addition, projects for the Pinaka rocket, high caliber weapon systems, T-90 tanks, BMP-2 infantry combat vehicles and Arjun main battle tanks worth about 60 billion rupees are in the pipeline, the official says.

"There has been a 30% increase in production of various types of ammunition during the last financial year [which ended March 31]," he says.

 

[BangersAndMash]

^^^

Isn't BMP 2 outdated? No plans for a new ICV?

 

[nitesh]

^^^

Isn't BMP 2 outdated? No plans for a new ICV?

DRDO has came up with an ICV called abhay, IA rejected it and made it a technology demonstrator, they are waiting for a new FICV

 

[nitesh]

good decision

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfe...llaboration-from-12th-fiveyr-plan/679953.html
DRDO, DAE to enter formal collaboration from 12th Five-Yr Plan

 

[Patriot]

Indian military capable of detecting any intrusion, says DRDO scientist

ndia's military has the capability to detect any suspected intrusion by low-flying aerial vehicles, similar to what happened during the recent operation by the U.S. Navy Seals in Abbotabad, Pakistan, according S. Sundaresh, Distinguished Scientist of Defence Research and Development Organisation said on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the 20th convocation of Sathyabama University here, Mr. Sundaresh, who is also the Chief Controller, Research and Development, Armaments and Combat Engineering, DRDO, was responding to a query on whether India possessed the technology to keep a surveillance of low-flying aircraft and helicopters.

He said that India's military had the technology to keep a surveillance of low flying aircraft and possessed airships with a capability to maintain a surveillance of 100 kilometres around it to detect any suspected intrusion.

These airships were demonstrated during the recent Aero India Air Show. These airships could merge with the foliage beneath them.

Asked if the recent MoU with a U.S. firm on DRDO's explosives detection kit was a reversal in the direction in the flow of technology transfer, Mr. Sundaresh replied in the affirmative. "This is the second such instance. Earlier, we transferred technology to Korea. The kits have been finding application in the past 18 months. He said that the kits, which could trace even small quantities of explosive substances, were being used by defence forces, paramilitary and State police.

Three threats

Stating that India faced three important threats and challenges in the areas of cyber, energy and space security, the scientist said that the Ministry of Defence and research organisations were fully geared to meet these challenges.

A committee on Cyber Security is already in place. "The objective is to create firewalls and put in place adequate security measures that will make it impossible for others to penetrate our databases," Mr. Sundaresh said. In the past, key websites of the government were hacked into by "neighbours." He said a lot of research was being carried out to counter insurgency and adopt technology to a great extent to create tools to battle conflict. The project to design micro Unmanned Aerial Vehicles that could help forces fighting insurgency was on, he added.

On the proposals to design Hummer vehicles on the lines of the original made by General Motors for the U.S military, Mr. Sundaresh said the DRDO had discussions with three Indian automobile majors. Designs, if needed, could be got from the U.S. but the manufacturing and fabrication would be done entirely indigenously.