04-04-2008, 05:49 AM
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<b>DRDO up for overhaul, weapons prog to be prioritised</b>
Thu, Apr 3 04:46 PM
A high-powered Committee set up by the government to suggest revamping of the Defence Research and Development Organisation has recommended that the DRDO focus on critical weapons programme and offload research in other areas to private sector.
The report of the committee, headed by eminent scientist P Rama Rao, has suggested that the DRDO focus all its attention on 10 to 14 critical projects like missiles, anti-missiles systems, light combat aircraft, aero engines, electronic warfare, development of high altitude extreme endurance weaponised unmanned aerial vehicles.
The report submitted to Defence Minister AK Antony has still not been made public. Antony had set up a team of two senior Defence Ministry officials to analyse it and make an operative draft for putting it up before the Cabinet Committee on Security(CCS), which is chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
In other far reaching recommendations, the Committee has also proposed setting up of more Brahmos style joint military ventures, making all new futuristic weapons programme time bound and suggested that changes be undertaken in the administrative structure of the organisation. The Committee has called for increasing the number of top rung scientists, recruit more middle rung scientists and suggested that Rs 600 crore be earmarked as a corpus for setting up advanced weapons research. The Committee feels that 10 to 14 projects which the DRDO takes up should have a culmination time of 10 to 12 years and these should include extensive research to be undertaken in specialised alloys and metals. One of the most significant recommendations made by the Rama Rao Committee is calling for establishment of the Defence Technology Commission (DTC) to the Defence Minister, which would act as his think tank on military research.
Experts feel that setting up of such a commission would give the DRDO a " significant say" in defence purchases. The committee, experts said wants DRDO to have a greater say in weapons purchases as often its comments are some times overruled by the three services--- Army, Navy and IAF. Rama Rao Committee says that the proposed DTC should restore the role of DRDO in rendering scientific advice in acquisition of weapon systems and also formulate a" clear-cut policy on self-reliance'".
The Committee has remained silent on the demand made by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence that the Secretary DRDO, should be divested of many roles that he currently has. The Committee wants that the Secretary,DRDO who also acts as the Director General, should be renamed as Chairman DRDO and head the Science and Technology Management Mission.
He should also be made a member-convenor of the DTC, which should be chaired by the Defence Minister, the Committee suggested.
<b>DRDO up for overhaul, weapons prog to be prioritised</b>
Thu, Apr 3 04:46 PM
A high-powered Committee set up by the government to suggest revamping of the Defence Research and Development Organisation has recommended that the DRDO focus on critical weapons programme and offload research in other areas to private sector.
The report of the committee, headed by eminent scientist P Rama Rao, has suggested that the DRDO focus all its attention on 10 to 14 critical projects like missiles, anti-missiles systems, light combat aircraft, aero engines, electronic warfare, development of high altitude extreme endurance weaponised unmanned aerial vehicles.
The report submitted to Defence Minister AK Antony has still not been made public. Antony had set up a team of two senior Defence Ministry officials to analyse it and make an operative draft for putting it up before the Cabinet Committee on Security(CCS), which is chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
In other far reaching recommendations, the Committee has also proposed setting up of more Brahmos style joint military ventures, making all new futuristic weapons programme time bound and suggested that changes be undertaken in the administrative structure of the organisation. The Committee has called for increasing the number of top rung scientists, recruit more middle rung scientists and suggested that Rs 600 crore be earmarked as a corpus for setting up advanced weapons research. The Committee feels that 10 to 14 projects which the DRDO takes up should have a culmination time of 10 to 12 years and these should include extensive research to be undertaken in specialised alloys and metals. One of the most significant recommendations made by the Rama Rao Committee is calling for establishment of the Defence Technology Commission (DTC) to the Defence Minister, which would act as his think tank on military research.
Experts feel that setting up of such a commission would give the DRDO a " significant say" in defence purchases. The committee, experts said wants DRDO to have a greater say in weapons purchases as often its comments are some times overruled by the three services--- Army, Navy and IAF. Rama Rao Committee says that the proposed DTC should restore the role of DRDO in rendering scientific advice in acquisition of weapon systems and also formulate a" clear-cut policy on self-reliance'".
The Committee has remained silent on the demand made by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence that the Secretary DRDO, should be divested of many roles that he currently has. The Committee wants that the Secretary,DRDO who also acts as the Director General, should be renamed as Chairman DRDO and head the Science and Technology Management Mission.
He should also be made a member-convenor of the DTC, which should be chaired by the Defence Minister, the Committee suggested.