India Pavilion at DefExpo to showcase DRDO, private sector achievements

An exclusive India Pavillion, being set up for the first time to showcase the combined strength of DRDO, public and private sector in defence manufacturing, is going to be the highlight of DefExpo-2018 being organised between April 11-14 in Chennai.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) would be showcasing its flagship products and innovations in all formats -- indoor, outdoor and live demo -- during the event that has the theme of "India: The Emerging Defence Manufacturing Hub", an official statement said on Tuesday.

Another key attraction at the pavilion would be an array of digital experiences including war game simulation zone, augmented reality, virtual reality and physical simulators etc.

"The DRDO is putting up flagship products and systems in two broad categories -- one pertaining to technologies ready for transfer to industries for production and the other pertaining to technologies ready for exports," it said.

DRDO will be participating in the live demo for some of its indigenously designed and developed products, which include light combat aircraft Tejas, main battle tank Arjun MK-II, Arjun Armoured Recovery and Repair Vehicle (ARRV), T-72 Trawl, T-72 Bridge Layer Tank, Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhaP), Mobile Surveillance System and Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS).

The outdoor exhibits include Nirbhay missile system with launcher, Autonomous Unmanned Ground Vehicle (AUGV), MBT Arjun Mk-I, Astra missile, low level transportable radar (LLTR) system, medium power radar (MPR) system, convoy jammer, multipurpose decontamination system (MPDS), Varunastra heavy weight anti-submarine electric torpedo, bio-toilet etc.

"The indoor exhibit area would be having more than 400 exhibits. The exhibits include technologies pertaining to aeronautics, missiles, armaments, combat vehicles, naval systems, electronics, information warfare and life sciences," it said.

During the event, Transfer of Technology (ToT) of DRDO developed products to private industry and DPSU partners will be done in the presence of Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday.

Some of these include Astra Missile, Varunastra heavy weight torpedo, anti-thermal anti-laser grenade and Abhay Sonar etc.

"The DRDO's participation in DefExpo-2018 is expected to provide a platform for collaboration with industry and open out opportunities for export of defence technologies," the statement said.

--IANS

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