Bengaluru: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar released a list of 70 products and systems that have been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for various wings of armed forces.

Parrikar says that in the last three years, many of these systems developed by DRDO have been inducted into the defence forces.

Interestingly many sub-systems are also being cited by the minister in the Upper House, with some being at various stages of trials, production and induction.

Parrikar says many of the products, originally developed for the defence forces, can also be used by Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), state police units and National Disaster Response Force.

DRDO has organised visits of CAPF’s to various laboratories to showcase DRDO’s products and capabilities.

The minister also said that the Ministry of Home Affairs has shortlisted about 146 items for trials, out of which trials of 78 products have already been completed.

He said a large number of products which can provide protection, day-night situational awareness and support-mobility have also been identified for induction into services by MHA after the trials.

Among the list of successful products of DRDO include: 1) 81 mm Anti Thermal Anti Laser Smoke Grenade 2) Active Antenna Array Unit 3) Air Defence Fire Control Radar 4) Airborne Early Warning & Control System 5) Akash Weapon Systems 6) Anti G Suit Mk-III 7) Aslesha Radar 8) Auto injector Atropine Sulphate 9) Bi Modular Charge System 10) Bomb 120 mm ILLG 11) Bomb 120 mm Mortar HE 12) Bomb 81 mm Mortar HE 13) Bomb 81 mm Mortar PWP 14) Bomb Mortar 51 mm HE Mk-II 15) Bomb Mortar 51 mm ILLG 16) Bomb Mortar 51 mm Smoke 17) Bomb Mortar 81 mm ILLG 18) Bridge Layer Tank T-72 (BLT-72) 19) Cartridge ERU for aircraft with Package 20) Cartridge Primary for 120 mm Mortar 21) Cartridge SA 5.56 mm Ball 22) Cartridge Signal 16 mm 1A 23) Cartridges 105 mm IFG NC 24) Cartridges 22” RF Ball 25) CBRNe Remotely Operated Vehicle 26) Chemical Agent Monitor 27) Coastal Surveillance Radar 28) Commander’s Thermal Imager for T-90 29) Commander’s Thermal Imager for BMP Tanks 30) Commander’s Thermal Imager Mk-II for T-72 31) Communication Link Controller 32) Digital Radar Warning Receiver 33) Display Processor 34) E1 Link Encryptor 35) Electronic Support Measure (ESM), Varuna 36) EW Programme - Samudrika 37) Explosive Detection Kit 38) Explosive Reactive Armour Mk-II 39) Fuze 213 Mk-V M2 40) Heavy Drop System 41) Helmet Mounted Thermal Imaging Camera 42) Holographic Sights for Small Weapons 43) Identification of Friend and Foe System 44) Integrated Multi-function Sight 45) Laser based Directed Energy System 46) Mine AP M16 and AP NM-14 47) Mission Computer 48) Mobile Autonomous Robotic System 49) Mountain Foot Bridge 50) NBC Canister 51) NBC Filter 52) Optical Target Locator 53) Personal Decontamination Kit 54) Phase Control Module 55) Pinaka Launcher Mk -II 56) Radar Computer I & II 57) Radar Warning Receiver 58) Resin based Combustible Cartridge Case for 120 mm FSAPDS Mk-II Ammunition 59) Revathi Radar 60) Rotating Telemetry System 61) Secure Adapter for Frame Relay Encryptor 62) Secure Multi Interface Link Encryptor 63) Shell 105 mm IFG BE Smoke 64) Shell 105 mm ILG Mk-I 65) Short Range Laser Dazzler 66) Three Colour Detector 67) Through Wall Imaging Radar 68) Weapon Locating Radar (WLR) 69) Wheeled Armoured Platform 70) X-Band Microwave Power Module

Ever since the NDA government came to power in 2014, DRDO has been put on the radar with Prime Minister Narendra Modi wanting youngsters to be given more responsibilities.

This followed the sacking of DRDO head Dr Avinash Chander in 2015 which came as a warning from the top. The post of DRDO DG and Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister was then split into two. Dr S Christopher was given the mandate of running the labs and Dr G Satheesh Reddy was made Parrikar’s advisor.

In the last one year, DRDO seldom made any claims on their achievements and kept many of its missions under wraps.

“DRDO often forgot that they have a user in the waiting with hope. It was a family party often with little focus on R&D. I am not sure if the youngsters got their due. If they (DRDO) have gone silent means, they have been told to prove their worth first. If Make in India needs to succeed DRDO must change their attitude towards private players. The list of 70 items released now would be doubled then,” says a former Indian Air Force official, who worked closely with some of the home-grown projects, while on deputation.