DRDO 2010 Review - Arjun MBT, LCH, Dhruv, LCA Naval Variant, Kaveri Engine, Restructuring

BY ADMIN-This was an excellent year for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) with the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas passing stages to finally take wings, unveiling of the Light Combat Helicopter and the Armed Version of ALH Dhruv and the Main Battle Tank Arjun finally getting bulk orders. The Government also initiated a long-awaited restructuring of the DRDO to make it leaner and give fillip to private sector participation.

First Flight of Light Combat Helicopter
The indigenously designed and developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), powered by Shakti engines, undertook its inaugural flight on 29th March. It is laced with Forward Looking Infra Red Imaging Technology, Laser Range Finder facilities for target acquisition under all-weather conditions and data link for network centric operations. The 5.5 ton capacity helicopter is due to get its Initial Operational Clearance in December, 2011.

Armed Version of ALH Dhruv
The Armed Version of ALH Dhruv, ALH Weapons System Integrated, ALH-WSI, was developed by HAL and is presently undergoing integration trial for armament and electro-optical systems. It is equipped with Forward Looking Infra Red and Thermal Imaging Sights Interface, a 20 mm turret gun, 70 mm rocket pods, Anti-Tank Guided Missiles and Air-to-Air Missiles.

LCA Navy rolls out
The first LCA Navy, NP-I, rolled out from the hangars of HAL, Bangalore on 6th July, ready for the phase of Systems Integration Tests leading to Ground Runs and Taxi Trials with the first flight due to take place next year.

Kaveri crosses another milestone
The Kaveri engine, being developed by the GTRE for the LCA Tejas, was tested under simulated altitude and forward speed conditions in February, 2010. Another engine was integrated with the IL-76 at the Gromov Flight Research Institute, Moscow for the Kaveri engine’s maiden Ground and Flight tests on 3rd November. It marked another step towards obtaining certificate for flight operations for the indigenous fighter jet engine.

Interceptor Missile Tests
The DRDO conducted the fourth in a row successful test of the Interceptor Missile, in endo-atmospheric mode at an altitude of 15 kms, at the Interim Test Range (ITR), Chandipur in Orissa on 26th July.

Brahmos Vertical Launched, and in high degree manoeuvre
The Brahmos was successfully tested from the state-of-the-art Universal Vertical Launcher fitted on a moving warship, INS Ranvir, off Orissa coast. The Vertical Launcher will be fitted on three Project 15A Class of warships being built at MDL, Mumbai and three more on the Talwar Class ships being built at Kaliningrad, Russia. The Brahmos Block-3+ Version was successfully tested this month from ITR, establishing the supersonic cruise missile’s mountain warfare capability with a new guidance system involving large scale manoeuvring, steep dive and precision strike.

NBC Recce Vehicles handed over to Army
The DRDO handed over four Nuclear-Biological-Chemical Recce Vehicles, based on the Armoured Personnel Carrier BMP-2, to the Corps of Engineers of the Indian Army in December, thus completing an order of eight Limited Series Production (LSP). The Army has ordered another 16 NBC Recce Vehicles.

New Pilot Selections System
The DRDO signed an agreement in New Delhi this year with the IAF for series production of the Computerised Pilot Selection System. Developed by the Defence Institute of Psychological Research, New Delhi, it is a state-of-the-art embedded micro-controller-based system.

DRDO Restructuring
The Government approved the restructuring of DRDO on 13th May, following recommendations made by the Committee headed by Dr. P Rama Rao, former Secretary, Department of Science and Technology. Aimed at boosting Defence Research and encouraging the private sector to participate in the vast Defence Production and R&D efforts, the proposals envisage establishment of the Defence Technology Commission with the Defence Minister in chair likely to be functional in February, 2011, decentralization of DRDO management and merger of some DRDO laboratories.

The Bangalore-based Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) will continue work with the LCA Tejas and the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) with the development of the Kaveri engine. The development of MBT Arjun Mark-2 and Akash Mark-2 Missiles will also continue. A new commercial arm of the DRDO is also proposed to be set up as a Private Limited Company with a seed capital of about Rs.2 crores.