In 2020, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) signed 225 licence agreements with industry.
After releasing DRDO-India documents and procedures at Aero India2021 at Bengaluru, on 3 February, Union defence minister Rajnath Singh said “These 225 agreements that were signed with industry show the industries’ trust in home grown technologies developed by DRDO.”
The policy revisions done is expected to facilitate the design, development, production and certification of next-generation air systems. The new airworthiness framework will empower the organisations and industries with liberal certification procedures.
DRDO participated in the ‘Bandhan’ ceremony at Aero India 2021 on 5 February 2021 to enhance cooperation and synergy between industry and Government organisations. Transfer of Technology (ToTs) documents were handed over to industry representatives.
The DRDO handed over Licensing Agreements for ToT (LAToT) for 14 DRDO developed technologies to 20 industries. The technologies transferred are from the area of electronics, laser technology, armaments, life sciences, materials science, combat vehicles, naval systems, aeronautics, sensors, etc. The product technologies transferred are Low Level Transportable Radar (LLTR), Inertial Navigation System for Ship Application (INS-SA), Long Range Optical Target Locator (OTL 1500), Hand Held Through Wall Imaging Radar (HH-TWIR) and Commander TI (Thermal Imager) Sight for T-72 Tank are the sensor technologies transferred to various industries. NMRL-Fuel Cell based Air Independent Propulsion Technology for Naval Submarines named NMFCAIP is a unique capability developed by DRDO and now transferred to the industry. Multi Agent Robotic System (MARS) will be produced by Indian industry based on DRDO design.
In his address, Raksha Mantri said Bandhan exemplifies the spirit of ‘public-private partnership’. He added that the fountain head of any capability emerges from its foundation and the foundation of our vision rests on three pillars namely, research and development, public and private defence production and defence export.
Many armament systems, namely 155 mm X 52 Cal Advance Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), Mechanical Mine Layer – Self Propelled (MML– SP) and Prachand Anti-Tank Munition are handed over to the industry for production. Other technologies that were transferred for production by Indian industry are Individual Under Water Breathing Apparatus (IUWBA), Basic WhAP 8×8 & Add-on Armour for WhAP and 4MW Diesel Engine Infrared Signature Suppression System. An MoU was exchanged between DRDO and HAL to cooperate and finalize the aspects of ToTs of Uttam radar for new LCA configurations and new generation Radar Warning Receiver (RWR-NG).
