Indigenous development takes time: DRDO Chief

The Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister does not consider the constant barrage of criticism over delays in defence development projects as “DRDO bashing”, asserting indigenous development takes time and tremendous efforts.

“Honestly there are some gaps that persisted from the last 25 to 30 years. This makes you feel that somebody is complaining about the delay in development projects and it is considered DRDO bashing. I don’t consider it DRDO bashing. It is a statement of perception of users,” V K Saraswat told reporters. Saraswat is also the Chief of the Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO).

IAF boss Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne had recently expressed unhappiness over the delays in military development projects and also suggested imposition of “financial penalties in case of poor performance of the work centre, either by withholding further payments or recovery of money already spent.”

Defence Minister A K Antony had also pulled up the DRDO for “delays in delivery” of military projects and termed time slippages as a “real problem” for the defence forces. He said he was “impatient” to see completion of the Light Combat Aircraft(LCA)project. Saraswat said there is no such term as “DRDO bashing” because the Defence Research organisation, Ministry of Defence and users are part of the same system.

He said for making an indigenous product there is a tremendous amount of effort required which could lead to success and failure simultaneously. “There is a difference between cooked food and food being prepared. Indigenous development is the same. To prepare food is more difficult than serving already cooked food (or fast food),” he contended. It is a fact of life that development process will take time, he added.