History of DRDO has been a chronicle of false claims, tall promises, inexplicable delays and sub-optimal products. The only success it has to its credit relates to replication of some imported products (commonly called %u2018reverse engineering%u2019 and %u2018indigenisation%u2019). Expending defence budget on developing new breeds of angora rabbits or newer varieties of orchids defies logic and reveals a total lack of focus. Many feel that DRDO%u2019s failure in high-tech areas has resulted in a crisis of identity - it has lost sight of its primary responsibility and resorted to delving in infructuous work to justify its existence.
Bharat Verma is bang on target when he says that there is a total lack of accountability as DRDO is not answerable to anyone. There is no external audit. Escalation in costs and deferment of completion dates are taken for granted. DRDO has been preventing import of urgently needed military systems by making confident assertions and promising indigenous products in the required time frame. Not one promise has ever been fulfilled. But no one has ever been taken to task for misleading the defence services, at times with grave consequences.
In 1997, India was on the verge of signing a contract for the import of Weapon Locating Radars (WLR) when DRDO intervened to scuttle the deal with claims that it would develop and produce them in two years. Mr APJ Kalam headed DRDO at that time. India went into the Kargil conflict without WLR and suffered hu
RE:How DRDO failed India's military
by Sanjay on Jan 18, 2008 12:19 PM Permalink
Let me tell you something, DRDO is a very successful organization. It does not need people who are uneducated ill informed as to be unable to call a success a success. Yes, they are not perfect, but still very successful
Look at agni missile program, and Akash that was able to score a directly hit a ballistic missile. These programs are both strategic success that puts us in much more better position with China. The Akash puts us in League with almost US, or maybe better then Russia. brahmos joint venture has produce a cruise missile that is supersonic better then anything in USA.
Those who compare Pakistan with India are insulting our nation.
Those who want to close the program has some alterative motive because research and development never stop.
We make helicopter,aircraft, missiles, radars, Air defence ship(air craft carriers),Frigate,destroyers,sonars, torpedos, statelites, launch vehicles, trucks, munitions. so on, if we did not have reasearch development we would be like Pakistan.
hmmmmm. Weapon locating radar. They have built many type radar that are technologicaly more superior. It is not DRDO decision not to buy such radar but GOIArmy.
RE:How DRDO failed India's military
by commander hans on Jan 18, 2008 08:09 PM Permalink
dude stop talking like an ignoramus....you obviously work for drdo that is why you are defending....no one doubts your capability...but look at what you have delivered...a bi ZERO
RE:How DRDO failed India's military
by Sanjay on Jan 19, 2008 12:07 AM Permalink
Commander Hans, why before India's missile program no country in the world wished to even participate and help us out, if our missile program was not a success? Why joint ventures then, because they were subjected to sanctions, like Light combat Aircraft and few were willing too remember MTCR.
Now we can deny the facts but there were also witnesses like reporters, IAF who confirmed that in live demonstrations of our system capabilities like Akash. Why you doubt the Akash abilities. Do you doubt the test? Do you doubt the Agni capabilities? or other missile capabilities?
But lastly why is this government wishing to spend 10,000 corer to improve the Barak, when in the entire IGMDP budget for last 25 years was not 2,000 corers. Besides all the well know problems with Barak like slow reaction time, plus missing the target.
There is a doubt that government is half heartily support research, science, education, and only wishes kickbacks. Further, if you heard recently the state of IIT recently they cant even pay salaries to staff. To the question what is government intent to make us go to stone age? Besides newly added education cess, service tax for what to line their pockets with non-existence schemes like rural unemployment scheme.?
Further It can be said of this government which is inappropriate here, but to say in minimal words it is not only corrupt, but well infiltrated, fifth columnist.
Those who wish to question research and development, wish to halt develop
