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

(a) whether the products designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) have been inducted into the armed forces;

(b) if so, the details thereof during the last three years;

(c) whether many of the products developed by some laboratories of the DRDO have failed to confirm to the standards of the armed forces as reported recently;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and

(e) the steps being taken by Government to develop better coordination and cooperation between the product developers and the armed forces?

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

(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. Some of the major products developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) which have been inducted into Armed Forces during the last three years are:-

• Missiles
• Radars
• Electronic Warfare Systems
• Electronic Support Measure Systems
• Radar Warning Receiver
• Laser Target Designator
• Combat Net Radio
• Briefcase Terminal
• Thermal Imager
• Holographic Sight
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
• Heavy Drop Systems
• Parachutes
• Combat Free Fall System
• Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) System
• Combat Vehicles
• Armoured Ambulance
• Bridge Layer Tank
• Robotic System
• Recce Vehicle
• Armoured Amphibious Dozer
• Mines
• Fire Detection and Suppression System
• Bridging Systems
• Grenades and Launchers
• Guns and Rifles
• Ammunitions
• Sonars
• Torpedos
• Life Support Systems
• Composite Materials and Steels
• Life Jackets
• Bio-digester
• Ready to Eat Meal
• Submarine Escape Suite
• NBC Detection and Protection System.

(c) & (d): No, Sir. All products developed by the DRDO and inducted into the Armed Forces have met the qualitative requirements fully. However, modifications / improvements suggested by the users during developmental stage are incorporated before the product is inducted into Armed Forces. During life cycle of the product already inducted into the Armed Forces, improvements required by the users in the existing systems in terms of quality, performance, function, etc. are carried out by the DRDO.

(e) Regular interactions with the Armed Forces are held at various levels right from conception of the project / programme through development and productionisation. Periodic meetings with the users as well as their participation during product trials are other steps which are taken to develop better coordination and cooperation with the Armed Forces. Production agency is also identified at the beginning of the project. Thus all the three stake holders i.e. developing agency, user and production agency work together in a coordinated manner.

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