DRDO to develop unmanned combat air vehicles in future

New Delhi, Jan 9 (UNI) The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) today said it will focus on the development of futuristic technologies relating to systems such as multi-role fifth generation fighter aircraft, integrated surveillance and unmanned combat air vehicles in the coming decade.

It said air to air missiles Astra, hypersonic vehicles airborne EW, multi-sensor data fusion, active phased array multi-function radar, unmanned ground vehicles and autonomous underwater vehicles would also be developed.

In his address at the launch of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of DRDO here, M Natarajan, Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister and DRDO Chief, said the organisation has a proven competence to produce strategic and state-of-the-art tactical military hardware and related technologies in diverse disciplines covering aeronautics, missiles, naval systems, armament and combat engineering, electronics, materials and life sciences.

''Some recent successes have added a feather in the cap of DRDO.

The missile launch test of the LCA was the first step in the weaponisation of this state-of-art combat aircraft. This was quickly followed up by flights with drop tanks including transfer and litening pad,'' he added.

Mr Natarajan said the successful test launch of Agni-3, the intermediate range ballistic missile, and of the interceptor missile were the other steps.

''These achievements have propelled India into an elite club of technologically advanced countries of the world.'' He said DRDO has also a number of other achievements to its credit. In the field of aeronautics, apart from the successful LCA programme was the development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Lakshya and Nishant, the modular avionics suites for imported combat aircraft, the DRDO chief added.

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