Birth of the Company
DRDO was formed in 1958 from the amalgamation of the then already functioning Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) of the Indian Army and the Directorate of Technical Development & Production (DTDP) with the Defence Science Organisation (DSO). DRDO was then a small organisation with 10 establishments or laboratories. Over the years, it has grown multi-directionally in terms of the variety of subject disciplines, number of laboratories, achievements and stature.
Vision
Make India prosperous by establishing world class science and technology base and provide our Defence services decisive edge by equipping them with internationally competitive systems and solutions.
Partnership with Industries
- The DRDO has taken a conscious decision to actively promote participation of Indian Industries in defence production. Interactions with industries takes place during different phases of a product cycle, such as:-
- Development Phase - Once system/product to be developed is identified and qualitative requirements are established, suitable industrial entities are identified to participate in the activity as 'developmental partners'.
- LSP (Limited Series Production) Phase - Once a lab developed prototype system is successfully evaluated by prospective users, a limited series production order is usually placed by the prospective users. Industry partners are co-opted for execution of this phase of activity.
- Bulk Production - Even though traditionally PSUs and Ordnance Factories undertake bulk production of weapon systems and equipment, primarily, a substantial portion of the work of production of sub-system is being farmed out by them in consultation with the nodal DRDO laboratory to private industries in the civil sector. With the opening up of defence production to industries in the private sector, their involvement is steadily going up.
- Spin-offs, Marketing - Private industry is called upon to exploit the civil spin-offs from the defence technology by effecting required repackaging/modification. At times there is a requirement of industry taking up maintenance of the equipment on its sub-systems for a defined period.
- Scope also exists for industry to seek potential market for these products in India/Abroad with due approvals.
Exhibitions and Exposition
- DRDO has been actively participating in national and international expositions/exhibitions to showcase its achievements in Defence R&D and create awareness about our accomplishments and abilities. Some of the major events in which DRDO has been participating regularly are :-
- (a) DEFEXPO - Once in two years
- (b) AERO India - Once in two years
- (c) National Science Congress - Every year
- (d) International exhibitions as a part of Indian contingent:- Asian Aerospace in Singapore - Once in two years
- (e) Any other similar event, as directed, in India/Abroad - On as required basis
DRDO Awards
The DRDO Awards Scheme, in its present form, was introduced in the year 1999 to motivate DRDO scientists, engineers and partners in industries and academic institutions in contributing for the cause of our national security and self-reliance. The present Award Scheme, instituted by the Government of India, are therefore, meant to encourage DRDO scientists and its partners in the Private Sector Undertakings (PSUs), the private firms as well as the academic institutions in performing even better towards accelerating the pace of development of critical technologies, transfer of technologies from laboratories to industries as well as productionisation of the state-of-the-art defence systems.
Training and Development
DRDO has a dynamic training and development policy which is executed through the Continuing Educational Programmes (CEP) for all cadre personnel viz DRDS, DRTC, Admin & Allied. At the entry level in DRDS, the newly recruited scientists undergo a 16 weeks Induction Course at the Institute of Armament Technology (IAT), Pune. Under the Research and Training (R&T) scheme the scientists are sponsored for ME/M Tech programmes at IITs/IISc and reputed universities. The fees is also reimbursed by the DRDO where scientists undergo Ph.D programme. In addition to this, the Organisation through its two premier Institutes namely Institute of Technology Management (ITM) and Institute of Armament Technology (IAT) deemed university offer courses for scientists and Armed Forces in the area of Technology Management, R&D Management and Armament. Indian Industries