The country’s research and development body for defence sector is now more open to collaborating with private players within the country and the academia, to meet requirements of the defence forces, a top official said here on Thursday.
Addressing ‘italk’, an event organised jointly by Gujarat Innovation Society (GIS) and Gujarat University in the city, S Christopher, chairman of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), said that while earlier the collaboration was with units of Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) and public sector undertakings (PSUs), more and more private companies are now being roped in for partnership.
“There is an exponential growth in Transfer of Technology, or ToT, from DRDO to private players,” he said. Already 27 technologies have been transferred and another 25 are ready for ToT.
He highlighted the case of Brahmos supersonic cruise missile, being jointly developed by Indian and Russian companies. While this is a case of collaboration with a company of a friendly country, such cases are now a reality with local firms as well.
He gave the example of indigineously developed Advanced Towed Artillary Gun System (ATAGS) with Bharat Forge. The system is at aleast as good as the imported Bofors guns, he said.
“After the demonstration to the defence minister and Army chief, there was an immediate order of 40 guns for user assisted trials, which is a big thing,” he said.
