DRDO Chief Calls for Identifying Future Technology, Developing Roadmap for High Energy and Special Materials

Defence Research and Development Organisation DRDO chairman Dr Samir V Kamat emphasized the need to identify future technology and evolve a road map for futuristic development in high energy and special materials.

Pune: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Chairman Dr. Samir V Kamat on Thursday stressed the need to identify future technology and evolve a roadmap for futuristic development in high energy and special materials.

Inaugurating International Workshop

Kamat, who is also the Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D, was speaking after inaugurating the International Workshop on High Energy and Special Materials (HEMs-2023), which comprised lectures by eminent personalities from Germany, Russia, DRDO, as well as several firms.

Need for Collaborative Research

Addressing the session attended by the student community, industry, and other research organizations from all over the country and abroad, Kamat emphasized the need to identify future technology and evolve the roadmap for futuristic development in high energy and special materials.

He asked them to deliberate for the design and realization of projects for future technologies, adding that the focus must be on the need for collaborative research work with the participation of private industry, academia, foreign partners, and DRDO.

Exploring Cutting-Edge Technologies

Dr. Boris Pevchenko, DG, JSC, FR&PC Russia, said this conference platform should be used for exploring cutting-edge technologies, deliberations on innovative aspects of HEMs, as well as initiatives for collaborative developments.

Delay in DRDO Projects

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Kamat, when asked about 23 of the DRDO's 55 high-priority projects getting delayed, said every project has a probable deadline for completion.

"When we take up a project, we say we are likely to complete it by so and so date. But when we start executing such R&D projects, there are chances of many technical challenges which make us go through iteration. During the test and evaluation, issues come up and that is why some projects get delayed," he pointed out.

The projects include developing anti-air field weapons, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, long-range radars, combat vehicles, combat suits for submarines, and submarine periscopes, among others.

Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt had provided the details in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha earlier this year.

Kamat said they would complete the projects, adding it is an ongoing process.

They are looking into why these projects got delayed and strengthening the processes to ensure it does not happen in the future is underway, he added.

The DRDO chief's call for identifying future technology and developing a roadmap for futuristic development in high energy and special materials is a significant step towards bolstering India's defense capabilities. By promoting collaborative research and leveraging the expertise of private industry, academia, and foreign partners, DRDO aims to overcome challenges and ensure timely completion of projects critical to national security.