Question: Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to satate :-

(a) whether Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) develops defence equipments for the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether it is a fact that there have been some complaints about the quality of such equipments developed by the DRDO;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the steps taken by Government to improve the quality of such equipments?

Answer: Minister of Defence (Shri A.K. Antony)

(a)&(b):Yes, Sir. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is engaged in design and development of strategic, complex and security sensitive systems for the Armed Forces. DRDO has developed a number of systems which include missiles; unmanned aerial vehicles; radars; electronic warfare systems; sonars; torpedos; combat vehicles; bridging systems; weapon launch systems; combat aircraft; sensors; NBC technologies; rifles and guns; parachutes; propellants and explosives; detonators; composite materials; fuel cells; antennas; communication systems; low intensity conflict technologies; etc. A large number of DRDO developed systems have been productionised and inducted into Armed Force and many are in the process of production and induction.

(c)&(d):DRDO developed systems are generally produced by the designated production agency. It is a fact that user comes out with quality issues during initial trials and usage. These issues broadly pertain to quality of production and usage and are addressed through well established defect investigation mechanism. Main Battle Tank (MBT) Arjun; Missiles like Trishul and Nag; and INSAS Rifle are some of the examples which did not conform to the standards of the users during developmental phase.

(e)There is a set laid down procedure in Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) for development of an equipment. DPP does not allow induction of a sub-standard equipment developed by DRDO as every equipment goes through stringent quality control and various type of trials defined by Users. DRDO developed systems are evaluated by the Users through various phases of User Trials complying GSQR parameters. Subsequently, each system is put through Maintainability Evaluation Trial (MET), Director General of Quality Assurance (DGQA) and General Staff (GS) Evaluations. Once the system is cleared by GS Evaluation, it is inducted into Services. Production order to designated Production Agency is released by the User only after trials and evaluations have been successfully completed. Any short-comings noticed after induction are attended by Production Agency. During the production, quality is assured by the DGQA. Wherever the quality issues are related to design aspects, DRDO takes corrective steps. DRDO undertakes product improvement / upgrades as required by the Services. DRDO also provides handholding to Production Agency as well as Users through Production Support Group created in the laboratory for post project activities after equipment is inducted into Services.

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