Defence Innovation: DRDO Aims Higher

India’s security issues are at the forefront. The government’s focus has been on exploring possibilities to boost defence manufacturing in India. Multiple announcements within the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 have outlined concrete measures. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the five biggest spenders in 2020, which together accounted for 62 per cent of global military expenditure, were the United States, China, India, Russia and the United Kingdom. In 2020, the US military expenditure was an estimated USD 778 billion, while China’s military expenditure, the second-highest in the world, was estimated to be USD 252 billion. 

In contrast, India’s defence budget was approximately USD 70 billion in the financial year 2022-23. The US has its own compulsions, but India cannot ignore China’s military spending. We are already dealing with the Chinese military at our doors and this warrants a ‘capability-comparison’.  

Within India’s defence budget, the capital outlay, which focuses on the modernisation of armed forces has been increased by 12.82 per cent with an allocation of USD 20.36 billion in 2022-23. India’s total defence R&D expenditure is around Rs 12,000 crore. In recognition of the modernisation deficit, the defence budget sets aside 25 per cent of the total R&D budget (i.e., around Rs 3,000 crore) for private industry. The R&D allocation is less than two per cent of India’s total 2022-23 defence budget. The Lok Sabha Standing Committee on Defence 2019-2020 had noted that the People’s Republic of China's (PRC’s) R&D spend was 20 per cent of the Chinese defence budget. This would mean that China could spend as much as India’s entire defence budget allocation on R&D alone.  

The defence sector has seen many technological breakthroughs which have totally transformed the battlefield. An infusion of R&D funds is urgently needed in areas such as microelectronics, hypersonics, artificial intelligence (AI), cyber security, man-machine interfacing, autonomous unmanned systems, 5G networking and other similar high-priority military capabilities. Defence-related R&D has the potential to turbo-charge the fourth industrial revolution in India’s context. The case for indigenising defence technologies has never been stronger.  

India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has been spearheading some of the most successful defence innovations, including India’s indigenous missile programmes. In its new avatar, with structural changes and a thrust on accountability, DRDO is poised to push boundaries.  G Satheesh Reddy, Secretary DDR&D and Chairman DRDO have been responsible for much of the changes lately. He speaks about the importance of meeting deadlines and the crucial link between DRDO and industry.  

Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems 

Among the most crucial project that promises to showcase the successful collaboration between DRDO and industry is the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS). After years of futile effort by the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), the project was handed over to private industry to develop the gun system designed by DRDO. ATAGS is under the final leg of the trials with BFL and TATA.  Beginning with ATAGS to Light Tank, Reddy talks about the collaboration with Bharat Forge and TATA. Although fully designed by DRDO, Reddy gives credit to the private players involved in the project. “We have developed two guns with two industries. Major things are common. However, these are separate units which are made with their own expertise,” he says. 

Winter trails in Sikkim have concluded successfully. Some minor issues pertaining to the rate of firing and other issues are being addressed following the trials at Pokhran last year. ATAGS have two versions—one gun is from TATA and one is from BFL.  Reddy confirms that both the guns have reached Pokhran and second rounds of trials should currently be in progress. He expects all issues to be sorted out by April. 

UAVS-Rustom II 

The more ambitious project is the medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (MALE UAV). The Prime Minister too spoke about the project. The indigenous drone will give India the capability to undertake credible Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) activities. DRDO’s MALE UAV named Rustom has gone through advanced stage trials with impressive results, operating at altitudes of 18,000 feet. The progress has led to the cancellation of planned imports and will result in savings of USD 3 billion. Even if the government puts one-third of the USD 3 billion into domestic R&D effort, it could lay the ground for next-generation ISR capabilities. “Industry could create magic,” says a leading scientist who is working on such projects. 

Rustom II can reportedly operate at 27,500 feet altitude. More trials are underway and the DRDO is confident of adding combat capabilities to the drones that meet all the qualitative requirements and parameters set out by the armed forces. 

Aero-engine (propulsion system) 

Another technological breakthrough pertains to the materials for an aero engine.  This coveted technology has alluded to India for a long time. The DRDO is currently collaborating with a French original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for developing an aero engine for the advanced medium combat aircraft (AMCA) project which is under the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) norms. The modalities around the development and technology access issues subsequent to the development are still being worked out.  

Reddy explains that as far as the aero-engine is concerned, the country has worked on the Kaveri engine. By the time it came up, the requirement of the LCA Tejas had changed. So Kaveri could not be used. But with some modifications, the Kaveri dry engine which is about 50 KN will find another application. With respect to the AMCA, Reddy says that a higher thrust engine, which is not available anywhere in the world today, is needed to meet the specifications of the Indian armed forces. He underlines the need for advanced materials, a processing mechanism for the single crystal blade and an advanced propulsion system if the AMCA project is to be a success.  

Air Independent Propulsion (AIP)  

On the naval front, Reddy takes particular pride in the higher capacity fuel cell for the Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system that DRDO has successfully developed. The indigenous technology recently underwent 14 days of prototype testing. The AIP is based on fuel cells that will power P75 I – the next generation submarine of the Indian Navy. 

A plug is being developed to fit the AIP in the P-75 [Scorpene class submarine] and integrate it as per the Indian Navy’s requirement.  

Hypersonic weapon 

While the DRDO has been successful in testing Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle using the indigenously developed scramjet propulsion, China has already deployed a hypersonic weapon. The DRDO is not far behind and has conducted highly successful initial trials.  

The DRDO is currently working on the scramjet engine required and the materials required to withstand the thermodynamic stresses in hypersonic vehicles. The task ahead is challenging but Reddy believes that the DRDO in concert with the industry can and will deliver.