DRDO advanced tech: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is now asking the private industry to take over the job of making around 200 military systems. This means DRDO will not make these anymore and will instead shift focus to bigger and more high-tech projects. By doing this, the organisation hopes to save a lot of money and concentrate better on advanced areas of defence technology. This decision was shared in a recent report given to Parliament by the Standing Committee on Defence.
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In the report, the committee also shared that DRDO got a budget of ₹23,855.61 crore for the year 2024-25. This amount is 5.25% of the total defence budget. The committee also said that DRDO is now working with different methods like Technology Development Fund (TDF), Development-cum-Production Partner (DcPP), and also through special centres set up with industry and universities, called DRDO-Industry-Academia Centres of Excellence.
Focus on 8 powerful tech areas
This year, DRDO has decided to give extra attention to eight very advanced and important areas of technology. These include Artificial Intelligence, Cognitive Technology, Quantum Technology, Neuromorphic Computing, Military Cyber Technology, Advanced Materials, Compound Semiconductors, and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Technologies. According to what the Ministry of Defence told the committee, “Projects are being focused in these areas.” So, DRDO will spend more time and effort on these special fields that can really make India’s defence stronger.
The Ministry explained to the committee that DRDO’s job is to design and make very complex and important technologies. These are things that private companies usually do not want to touch because they are risky and very costly. So DRDO is sticking to what it does best high-end and critical defence work. according to Tribune India, the Ministry said in its reply that “This focus aligns with DRDO’s core competencies and ensures that it is at the forefront of cutting-edge defence technology development.”
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Modern warfare needs
The Standing Committee also mentioned that the way war is fought today is changing fast. It’s no longer just about weapons and physical fighting. Now, there are hybrid threats too like cyber-attacks and tech-based warfare. So the committee has told DRDO to explore newer areas of research to prepare India for these kinds of new challenges.
DRDO has also shared with the committee that they have listed 183 systems that will be developed only by private companies. These will not be handled by DRDO, and this will help save a lot of money and time.
