Lok Sabha Question No. 1018 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-25
Subject: Development of Indigenous Defence Technologies
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Shri Tejasvi Surya

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1018

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 th  July, 2025

## DEVELOPMENT OF INDIGENOUS DEFENCE TECHNOLOGIES

1018. SHRI TEJASVI SURYA:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government allocates additional funds towards the research and development of  indigenous  defence  technologies  including  projects  such  as  the  Gas  Turbine  Research Establishment's Kaveri Engine and others;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  the  specific  technologies  and  infrastructure  being developed/utilized;
- (c) whether any structural reforms are being undertaken to enhance civil-military partnership in the defence ecosystem; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## A  N  S  W  E  R

MINISTER OF STATE

IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

- (a)  &  (b)  Yes,  Sir.  Ministry  of  Defence  (MoD)  is  allocating  funds  towards  the  R&D  for indigenous defence technologies. During the last three years, DRDO was sanctioned projects worth Rs. 29,558.66 Cr. The yearly break-up of funds is as follows:
-    Kaveri Derivative Engine (KDE), is the power plant for the remotely piloted strike aircraft (IUCAV  aircraft).  In  this  regard  two  projects  have  been  sanctioned  namely  Flightworthy Kaveri Dry Engine Development with the cost of Rs. 472.42 Cr and Technology Demonstration of Kaveri Derivative 'Dry' Engine with the cost of Rs. 251.17 Cr.

| Year                       |   No. of projects sanctioned | Cost (Rs. in Cr)   |
|----------------------------|------------------------------|--------------------|
| 01-Jan-2023 to 31-Dec-2023 |                           40 | Rs. 3842.71 Cr     |
| 01-Jan-2024 to 31-Dec-2024 |                           43 | Rs. 22175.49 Cr    |
| 01-Jan-2025 till date      |                           20 | Rs. 3540.46 Cr     |

(c) & (d) Yes, Sir.

-  Development-cum-Production-Partners (DcPP) are identified to ensure faster prototype development and faster transition to production phase, thereby enhancing the defence ecosystem.

(SHRI SANJAY SETH)

-  Industries are included in the loop for faster realisation technologies developed through academic projects,  through  DRDO  Industry  Academia- Centre of  Excellence (DIACoE).
-  Centre  for  Military  Airworthiness  and  Certification  (CEMILAC),  the  certification agency of DRDO, is working closely with its domestic civil counterpart i.e. DGCA for common  approach  in  UAV  certification.  CEMILAC's  MoD  approved  guiding document  certification  IMTAR  V2.0  has  provisioned  the  adoption  of  civil  drone certification for lower weight UAV thus enabling common certification criteria for both civil military use.
-  CEMILAC is also interacting with certification agencies (EASA & ANAC) and aircraft OEM  (Airbus  &  Embraer)  for  civil-military  derivative  aircrafts  methodology  for certification so that domestic DcPP can obtain certification in India.
-  DRDO has entered into MOUs with defence industrial corridors TIDEL Park Ltd and UPEIDA  to  collaborate  as  knowledge  partner  for  sharing  of  ideas,  resources  and expertise for development of Defence Industrial Corridors.
-  DRDO has established 15 DRDO Industry Academia Centres of Excellence (DIA-CoE) across  the  country  at  IISc  Banglore,  various  IITs  and  Central/State  Universities  to encourage directed research for developing new technologies for defence and security in identified areas.
-  DRDO has evolved a new ToT policy and procedures with zero ToT fee for its industry partners (Development cum Production Partners (DcPP)/ Development Partner (DP)) and zero royalty for supply to Indian Armed Forces and Govt Deptt.
-  Several world class test facilities have now been opened for industries in DRDO labs and necessary SOP has been formulated.
-  DRDO patents are available on DRDO website for use by industries. These patents are available free of cost to industries to enable Atmanirbhar Bharat.
-  DRDO has launched Technology Development Fund (TDF) which provides financial support  to  the  Indian  industries  for  the  design  development  of  innovative  defence products.
-  Dare to Dream 4.0 contest as launched during Def Expo with 10 problem statements to encourage innovation through the Indian scientific  community.  Dare  to  Dream  is  a scheme to promote individuals and startups for innovations in Defence & Aerospace.

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