Human Face of Indian Defence Technology
Radhakrishna Rao
Freelancer, Bangalore
e-mail: rkrao1950@gmail.com
In popular perception, India’s state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is a premier high-tech research hub active in developing missiles, aircraft and armored vehicles of various description. However, many of the technologies perfected by DRDO over the years for meeting the diverse and stringent needs of the three wings of the services, also have clear potential for wide-ranging civilian applications. As pointed out by DRDO chief, M Natarajan, about 85 per cent of the technologies generated in various laboratories of DRDO are of dual nature and could be fruitfully exploited for non-military uses on a large scale. “While DRDO continues to develop cutting edge technologies for Indian armed forces, it will also pursue spinning out relevant DRDO developed technologies for civilian applications,” said Natarajan.
As a crucial step towards creating an efficient pathway to deliver technologies developed by DRDO for commercial use in civilian products and services, DRDO in association with the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has initiated a Technology Assessment and Commercialization programme. The thrust of this is on identifying the DRDO technologies most suitable for commercialization and civilian use. As part of this programme, IC2 Institute of Texas University will help assess DRDO technologies suitable for commercial production.
The technologies being evaluated under this scheme range from a strong-action mosquito repellent and explosive detection kits, to short range surveillance radar and a detector to zero in on humans trapped under the debris in the aftermath of earthquakes, landslides and collapse of manmade structures. DRDO sources reveal that 26 of its research laboratories are participating in the programme and over 200 technologies are being assessed. Significantly, a number of Indian industrial entities have evinced interest in the commercialization of DRDO technologies.
According to the DRDO, expressions of interest have been received from Larsen and Toubro (L&T), Astra Microwave Products Ltd., Hi-Tech Projects, Alkali Metals Ltd., Encon Thermal Engineers Pvt. Ltd. and GTL Ltd. among others. For its part, the DRDO expects the Indian industry to come out with high-quality, affordable products for civilian use by making use of the technologies transferred from DRDO labs.
Through modification and fine tuning, the battlefield technologies developed by DRDO could be turned into beneficial products in the civilian sector. For instance, Sanjeevani, an acoustic life detector originally developed for underwater listening, has now been modified into a device capable of identifying people trapped under debris. Some of the products developed based on DRDO technologies that have hit the market place include rapid hardening cement, smart windows to protect from scorching heat, reverse osmosis-based mobile water purification systems and auto-inflatable lifejacket. The short-range battlefield radar could be used for weather forecasting.
On the other hand, the Gwalior-based Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE) has already transferred the technology it has developed to lure and kill mosquito varieties responsible for spreading diseases like chikungunya and dengue to the three Indian industrial units for commercial production. This eco-friendly and cost-effective system has been named ‘attracticide.’
Meanwhile, the Tezpur-based Defence Research Laboratory (DRL) has been focusing on problems peculiar to the hilly northeastern part of the country. Since drinking water in this part of the country is contaminated by high contents of iron, arsenic, flouride and magnesium, it has developed kits capable of monitoring contaminants and impurities. This kit was found to be highly useful during the floods that hit parts of Maharashtra in 2008. On another front, using the fibre-reinforced plastic technology developed for India’s homegrown fighter aircraft Tejas, DRL has developed a lightweight iron removal unit that costs just one-tenths of similar products available in the market. This innovative device makes use of materials like sand and marbles to reduce the level of iron to tolerable limits. DRL is also working on developing a portable filter capable of bringing down the levels of contaminants to the safe limits.
Not to be left behind, DRDO’s Field Research Laboratory (FRL) in Leh, Ladakh, has made significant contributions to dairying and agriculture in this “icy desert.” FRL scientists have successfully crossbred the region’s well known Yak with Swiss cows to produce a new cattle breed capable of withstanding the harsh climate of high-altitude zones. Further, the efforts of FRL scientists have resulted in the local farmers benefiting from improved methods of sheep and goat rearing. In the area of farming, DRDO in association with the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) has developed and transferred genetic engineering-based technology to produce vegetables such as tomato, bean, cucumber and fenugreek
In order to keep the armed forces stationed in high-altitude zones supplied with fresh vegetables, FRL is actively encouraging farmers in Ladakh to follow improved farm practices. As things stand now, DRDO is quite optimistic that in freezing Ladakh, three-fourths of the vegetable requirements of the Indian troops shall be met locally in a span of five years.
|
Blink
Del.icio.us
Digg
Furl
Google
Simpy
Spurl
Y! MyWeb
Facebook