Antony stresses on self-reliance in defence sector

New Delhi, Nov 6 : Calling for substantial investment in Research and Development in the Defence sector, Defence Minister A K Antony today said self-reliance in defence preparedness could be achieved only through optimal utilisation of national resources for which Defence PSUs, Ordnance Factories, DRDO and Armed Forces must follow an integrated approach.

Pointing that building synergy between Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Labs and production agencies would provide Defence PSUs and Ordnance Factories the much needed speed and direction to R&D work which was the driver of productivity, Mr Antony said these organisations should invest substantially in Research and Development to build capability in design and development.

This, he said, 'would create synergy between DRDO Labs and production agencies so that R&D efforts get the required speed and direction'.

He was speaking at the Raksha Mantri’s Awards for excellence presentation ceremony here.

Referring to the emerging demand of new and high technology products and services, the Minister stressed on continuous updating of technologies through in-house development and other methods, and said Defence PSUs and Ordnance Factories (OFs) must exchange information and pool in technological resources to ensure better utilisation of assets and product improvement.

'This will also avoid duplication of efforts and help achieve better value for money.' On dependence of the Armed Forces on arms import the Defence Minister said this is one area where we need to concentrate and reduce our dependence on imports by taking effective steps to achieve self-reliance in defence preparedness.

'The goal of self-reliance can be best achieved by optimal utilisation of national resources,' he said adding that Defence PSUs, Ordnance Factories, DRDO and Armed Forces must follow an integrated approach towards indigenisation efforts.

Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju also stressed upon DPSUs and Ordnance Factories to improve efficiency and product standards and said much of their efforts do not get translated into practice.

The recepients of the 'Raksha Mantri’s Awards' for excellence for the year 2007-08 to Defence PSUs and OFs are : Institutional Awards : (a) Excellence in Performance (Trophy) - Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.

(b) Best Performance in Exports (Trophy) - BEML Ltd.

Division/Factory/Shipyard Awards : (a) Best Performing Division (among DPSUs) (Trophy) - Bharat Electronics Ltd., Hyderabad (b) Best Performing Factory (Trophy) - Ammunition Factory, Khadki, Pune, Maharashtra (c) Best Performing Shipyard (Trophy) - Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai Group/Individual Awards (Rs. 1,00,000 each) : Import Substitution (a) Bharat Electronics Limited, Ghaziabad - for Engineering and Realisation of Rohini Radar D & E Model in collaboration with LRDE (design agency) (b) Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd., Kolkata - for Indigenisation of Centrifugal Pumps of Russian Origin for Warships/Submarines in Indian Navy.

Design Efforts : (a) MILCOM SBU unit of BEL, Bangalore - for Design and development of STARS V- Mk II 5W / 25W Radio Sets and its various accessories.

(b) Ordnance Factory, Dehu Road, Maharashtra - for Development of modified igniter NP- Type II Mk-1 for 455 Litre container bombs for Air Force.

Innovation : (a) Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai - for Innovative approach in overhaul of propulsion Motor and their mounts of German origin Submarines of Indian Navy without resorting to usual practice of cutting pressure hull which is usual practice at OEM and also world over.

(b) CRL, BEL, Bangalore - for Development of Hand Held Computer, part of the Shakti - Tactical Network project for Artillery of Indian Army.

--UNI

(c) 2009 Published with permission from United News of India.
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