DRDO to manufacture indigenous air missile defence systems
In keeping with its policy of prioritising indigenisation of Defence production, the PMO has given an “in-principle” approval for setting up of an Rs 6,000-crore facility by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for manufacture of Seeker, a key technology for air missile defence systems.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the go ahead on July 1 for the setting up of a fabrication facility for production of the Seeker. The DRDO has been asked to move a Cabinet note for approval by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). Following clearance from the CCS, the setting up of the proposed facility will be taken up by the lead research agency, an official said.
Only Seeker-based state-of-the-art missile systems can counter challenges from simultaneous multiple target air threat from any direction and at present the DRDO imports Seekers for its missile systems like Astra, long-range surface-to-air missile (lRSAM) and Brahmos.
Absence of Seeker technology has limited the capabilities of indigenous missile systems like Akash surface-to-air missiles and anti-tank Nag missile. While Akash and Nag are designed to follow one target, the Seekers can enable a missile system to keep an eye on multiple incoming missiles. Seekers can help a missile follow as many as 32 targets.
Officials said mass production of indigenous Seekers will help reduce the cost of the missiles in the long run.
Seeker technology is available with a few countries like the USA, Russia, France and Israel and the DRDO’s efforts to develop the technology have not borne fruit for the last two decades.
While France offered Seekers as part of the offer for acquisition of short-range surface-to-air missile defence system (SRSAM) in 2006, the US recently offered its Javelin missile system. The US gave the offer during the recent official visit of its Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel here.
Both the countries have offered transfer of technology, co-development and co-production with an Indian PSU and proposals are under consideration by the Centre.
A government-to-government agreement was signed between India and France for cooperation in missile development way back in 2006. While India nominated DRDO as the design authority with the task of developing the ground elements like radars and launchers, France authorized MBDA for facilitating transfer of technology (ToT) for SRSAM including Seekers.
Under the agreement, only the missiles were to be jointly developed by DRDO and MBDA and all other sub-systems were supposed to be produced by Indian industries.
The offer also included setting up of automated assembly lines for missile production to meet the delivery schedules. The Defence PSU Bharat Dynamics ltd. does not have automated assembly lines and relies on manual methods.
However, the agreement moved at snail’s pace during the two UPA regimes and the CCS approved price negotiation (PNC) with MBDA in 2010. The PNC was completed in 2012 and was approved by the Defence Acquisition Council in early 2013. Draft CCS note for final approval of the project was forwarded in 2013 by the Defence Ministry to the Finance Ministry and a final nod is awaited from the latter.
Intelligence sources tracking Defence preparedness said production of Seekers by DRDO through ToT will result in development of indigenous industry and limit any dependence on foreign countries.