New Delhi: With the armed forces often
criticised for frequently changing their requirements in
indigenous defence development programmes, DRDO on Friday asked
them to "firm up realistic requirements" so that it can
"properly plan" its projects.
"While we welcome all inputs and guidelines, we also
feel the need for the services to firm up realistic
requirements at the earliest so that we may properly plan our
project requirements," DRDO Chief V K Saraswat said here
today.
In recent times, the armed forces have come under
criticism for carrying out extensive evaluation trials and
changing requirements in the indigenous defence programmes
such as the NAG missile and Arjun tank, which have contributed
to delays in these projects.
"With a development phase of 10 years and an equal
phase of evaluation cum improvement phase of 10 years, the
Arjun tank has literally gone through an 'Agni Pariksha'
(trial by fire) by the Services," he said.
Saraswat said the work was now going ahead as per the
"agreed specifications" and hoped that the tank would be ready
with accepted systems.
The DRDO chief said in the next 18 months, the premier
research organisation would have a roadmap ready for preparing
the armed forces for their requirements in the year 2050.
He said to meet the requirements of the armed forces,
the DRDO will start working on a 155 mm 52 calibre artillery
gun system.
Saraswat said the DRDO was also working in the field
of cyber security.
PTI
First Published: Friday, June 03, 2011, 21:48