Facing criticism for cost overruns due to delays in developing weapon systems, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has taken several steps to improve its functioning like restructuring its headquarters, creation of technology domain based clusters and hike in budget for extramural research.
These measures were recommended by a committee headed by eminent scientist Dr P Rama Rao which was set up three years back by the Government to review the functioning of DRDO.Giving this information in the lok Sabha here on Friday in reply to a question on whether the Government proposed to revamp the DRDO and defence public sector undertakings (PSUs), Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said recommendations by Rama Rao committee were implemented.
These included seven technology domain based clusters headed by director general, creation of directorate of systems, analysis and modeling besides directorate of quality, reliability and safety, he said in a written reply.
Jaitley also informed the house that DRDO has sought approval from the government for creation of empowered Defence Technology Commission and setting up of a commercial arm of DRDO to generate funds. However, there was no proposal at present to revamp the PSUs to make them capable of developing advance weapon systems, he said. The PSUs have a strategy for strengthening their capabilities for producing and supplying various weapon systems required by the three Services within the agreed timeframe and some PSUs have also collaborated with DRDO and other R&D institutions in this regard, the minister said.
In reply to another question about the delay in acquisition of 145 ultra-light howitzers for the army from the US through the Foreign Military Sale(FMS) route, Jaitley admitted the process of procurement “has not progressed” due to issues over cost of the deal and offsets requirements.India and the US were discussing the deal for the last several years and the minister also said the “vendor has not been able to come up with a proposal fully compliant to the offset requirements.”
The guns were to be deployed in high altitude frontiers facing China and Pakistan besides Mountain Strike Corps of the Army. The last Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) held in February had asked the Army to review the plan in view of the increased price of the deal as the equipment manufacturers have hiked the cost of the proposed contract. The offsets proposal offered by the US firm is also not in line with the Defence Procurement Procedure.