Give more thrust to indigenous technology: Nair

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 13 (UNI) Stating that the aerospace industry is yet to take off in the country, ISRO Chairman G Madavan Nair today said the industries should give more thrust to manufacturing of indigenous equipment to meet the demands of the nation.

Inaugurating the national workshop on 'Self-Reliance in Aerospace Technologies' (SRAT '08) here, he noted they were importing many equipment for the industry. Industries should come forward to take up the high-tech areas,'' he added.

In the US, the industry took up the challenges in high-tech areas but no such initiatives were being taken in the country, Mr Nair said.

India could play a major role in the fast emerging sector only if the country achieved self-reliance.

Pointing out that the Cryogenic engine was the finest example of indigenous development, he said India had achieved self-reliance in many fields of space technology. ''Without any foreign help, we have developed laser-based navigation systems and also imaging systems,'' he added.

The SRAT '08, organised by the Thiruvananthapuram chapter of the Systems Society of India (SSI) and the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), would focus on efforts towards indigenisation to gain self-reliance in aerospace technology.

UNI PN SJ VD RAI2012