Lok Sabha Question No. 1029 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-25
Subject: Development of New Defence Technologies by DRDO
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Shri Anup Sanjay Dhotre

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEFENCE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1029

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 th  July, 2025

## DEVELOPMENT OF NEW DEFENCE TECHNOLOGIES BY DRDO

1029. SHRI ANUP SANJAY DHOTRE:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  details  of  recent  accomplishments  of  the  Defence  Research  and  Development Organisation (DRDO) in developing new defence technologies;
- (b) the manner in which the Government is promoting collaboration between DRDO, academic institutions and private startups;
- (c) the details of existing initiatives to fast-track the development and deployment of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics and hypersonics;
- (d) whether these schemes attracts youth and innovators into defence research careers and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  the  manner  in  which  the  Government  ensures  intellectual  property  protection  and commercialization of defence innovations?

## A  N  S  W  E  R

MINISTER OF STATE

IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI SANJAY SETH)

- (a) DRDO has successfully completed 138 projects during the last three years. Yearly breakup is

| Year                       |   No. of projects completed | Cost (Rs. in Cr.)   |
|----------------------------|-----------------------------|---------------------|
| 01-Jan-2023 to 31-Dec-2023 |                          48 | Rs. 4269.27 Cr.     |
| 01-Jan-2024 to 31-Dec-2024 |                          60 | Rs. 3989.97 Cr.     |
| 01-Jan-2025 till date      |                          30 | Rs. 1859.89 Cr.     |

Some of the major Projects completed are:

Nag Mk-2, Astra Mk-2, Dhruvastra-Air  to  Surface Missile,  Anti-Tank  Guided  Missile  for MBT Arjun MK-II, Solid Fuel Ducted Rocket Ramjet Technology for Air Launched Tactical Missiles, Anti-Drone Air-Defence System, Mission Planning System and Dual mode Seekers for  Terminal  Guidance,  Radome  for  AESA  Radar,  Hemispherical  Resonating  Gyroscope (HRG), Terahertz Proximity Sensor, Delivery of Third AEW&C Aircraft System to IAF,

High-Speed expendable Aerial Target 'Abhyas', Unmanned Small Airship System, Anti-Icing System of a Gas Turbine Engine, Heavy Drop System for C-130 & C-17 Aircraft, Assault Rifle, Light Machine Gun, Mounted Gun System, Improved Propulsion System for 120mm & 125mm Tank Gun Ammunition, Futuristic High Explosive Technologies, Landing Gear for 1 t  class  UAV,  Wheeled  Armoured  Platform  (WhAP)  CBRN,  Supersonic  Missile  Assisted Release  of  Torpedo,  Advanced  Technologies  for  Torpedo  Defence  System,  Ground  based Integrated EW Systems, Discrete and Portable COMINT Stations for Mountains, EW Systems for  Capital  Ships,  Aircrafts  &  Helicopter  of  Indian  Navy,  NextGen  Microwave  Receiver Modules for EW Applications, D-Jag System Internal RWJ System for Jaguar DARIN III Upgrade  Aircraft,  Tactical  Radios  for  Land  Systems,  Data  Links  for  Airborne  Platforms, Compact  Transhorizon  Communication  System,  Advanced  SATCOM  Technologies  & System, InfraRed Search and Track Technologies, Hyper Spectral Imaging Technologies & Infrastructure,  Advanced  Laser  Threat  Detection  System  for  Armoured  Fighting  Vehicles, Micro-optics and Freeform Optics based Devices, Ku-band Transmitter for Mobile Troposcatter  System,  Laser  Ordnance Disposal  System  for  Indian  Army,  Beam  Combined Fiber Laser Source, Photonics Radar, Surface Wave Over The Horizon Radar, Operational Planning  and  Management  System,  Indigenous  Geographical  Information  System  for  TriServices, Laser Diode Technology, GaN HEMT based MMICs for Applications up to X-band, Nuclear Defence Technologies for Armed Forces, Biomechanical Human Endurance Machine, Thermal Infrared Signature Technologies, Oxygen Solution for High and Extreme Altitudes etc.

(b)  DRDO,  Industry  and  Academic  Institutes  are  collaborating  for  carrying  out  Directed Research and translating research to technology for strengthening the future requirements of national  safety  and  security.  To  support  the  engagement  of  startups,  MSMEs  and  private industry, Long Term Directed Research Policy of industry engagement through academia has been launched. The policy provides the guidelines for involving the industry in DIA-COE projects either through ToT or for Technology Enhancement by engaging industry as Co-PI (Principal Investigator).

Directorate of ER&IPR, under the Grants-in-Aid (GIA) scheme, supports research activities in academic institutions and R&D centres for the development of technologies for its ongoing and future projects. The GIA funding is provided through Extramural Research (ER) Scheme and  four  Research  Boards  (RBs),  namely,  Aeronautics  Research  &  Development  Board (AR&DB), Armament Research Board (ARMREB), Naval Research Board (NRB), and Life Sciences Research Board (LSRB). Directorate of ER&IPR provides funding support to Indian Academia and R&D Centres for basic and applied research where current TRL of the proposed technology is between 1 and 3.

The funding opportunity is equally open to all the Institutions/ Colleges/ Universities/ R&D Centres and the directorate gives weightage to the requirement of DRDO labs and the expertise of the investigator.

Technology Development Fund (TDF) Scheme is a unique mechanism to integrate the public and private sector industries especially MSMEs and startups that may work in collaboration with the academia or research institutions to carry out innovation, research and development of defence and dual use technologies under the mentorship of DRDO.

(c)  Deep  Tech  areas  including  AI,  Quantum  Technology,  Directed  Energy,  Advanced Materials, Hypersonic, UAVs etc. are identified by the competent authority. DIA-CoEs are also carrying research in these specialized areas as per their identified research verticals. To fast track the development and deployment process, project proposal format are revised/improved, flexibility  of  recruiting  research  manpower  in  projects,  flexibility  to  use available funds among different heads of project expenditure without immediate concurrence and also joint Academia-Industry project SOP is promulgated.

(d)   The following schemes are available in DRDO to attract youth and innovators into defence research careers: -

(i) Scheme of Research Fellowships: DRDO  introduced a scheme of Research Fellowships  to  provide  opportunity  to  bright,  young  scientists  or  engineers  to  carry  out research  work  leading  to  earning  of  higher  qualification  or  for  acquisition  of  research experience. In addition to this, 500 students have been sponsored for PhD programmes under MHRD funded institutions  to  work  on  various  DRDO  projects  thereby  attracting  young research scholars and provide them working exposure to state-of-the-art defence technologies.

(ii) DRDO Young Scientists Laboratories (DYSLs): DRDO has created five DRDO Young Scientists Laboratories (DYSLs) to encourage innovation and incubation, through empowerment of  young Scientists/  Engineers  below  35  years  of  age  to  join  DRDO  and provide R&D environment in emerging engineering fields and advanced technologies such as  Artificial  Intelligence,  Quantum  Technologies,  Cognitive  Technologies,  Asymmetric Technologies and Smart Materials and provide an adequate freedom to young scientists to prove their talent.

(iii) DRDO  Paid  Internship  Programme:  DRDO  offers  an  internship  programme  for students pursuing their graduation/post-graduation in relevant disciplines of engineering and science. This initiative offers unique opportunity to aspiring professionals to work on highimpact  defence  R&D  activities  alongside  some  of  the  country's  brightest  minds.  This practical experience shall strengthen the technical knowledge of students for future roles in advanced research & engineering within defence technology.

(iv) An  extended  two  years  Post  Induction  Training  School  (POINTS)  Programme  for newly recruited scientists of DRDO by offering M.Tech in Defence Technologies has been introduced in collaboration with DIAT, Pune.

(v) In order to attract/support young talent and innovation in Defence R&D, an exclusive Join DRDO campaign video highlighting the opportunities available has been launched on DRDO website and a web based application to capture the research interest of bright minds of the country. DRDO is also conducting outreach programmes to attract young talents by participating  in  job  fairs,  exhibition,  etc.  in  various  states  in  collaboration  with  State Government authorities and encourage them to join DRDO.

(e)    DRDO  is  ensuring  intellectual  property  protection  by  filing  IPR  applications  on innovations made by DRDO, Academia and Indian Industry by filing various forms of IP like patents, designs, copyrights, trademarks etc. DRDO has empanelled 10 renowned IP attorney firms for filing of all IPR applications of DRDO. DRDO has also taken up licensing of all Indian granted patents on a royalty free basis to the Indian industry under the Make in India program of the Government of India (List of 972 granted patents available on DRDO website). DRDO is also conducting various outreach and awareness programs to promote IPR culture among DRDO, Academia and Indian Industry.

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