The aerospace industry must grow from system manufacturing to design and marketing and growth in the sector cannot be constricted to collaboration in manufacturing, a top Defence scientist said in Bangalore on Tuesday.
“Growth in aerospace cannot be limited to collaboration in manufacturing and has to be in all aspects - design, product and development,” V K Saraswat, Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister, said.
Reflecting on the aerospace scenario in India, Mr. Saraswat, who is also the Director General of Defence Research and Development Organisation, said there are aerospace programmes worth Rs 80,000 to Rs 90,000 crore in the country “in which we have collaborations with well-known names in the industry.”
“We have to translate this support into capability for designing. For example, the capability to build our own transport aircraft, capability from concept to product is what is needed,” he said at the second edition of the Aerospace Defence Awards 2013.
Mr. Saraswat appealed to the industries to promote design, manufacture and infrastructure for development of aerospace.
For this collaborations are needed including partnership with government agencies like DRDO, he said.
He said increased focus on defence programmes had resulted in uneven growth in the civilian sector.
“We must ensure that Regional Transport Aircraft becomes a part of industry initiative instead of a government initiative. We must look at ourselves as a and development house rather than a manufacturing house,” Mr. Saraswat said.
He later presented awards instituted by SAP Media Worldwide Limited in 13 categories, including those for individual achievements.
Awards for Excellence in Innovation and for outstanding contribution in the defence industry were given to the shipping firm, Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL).
The firm which contributes indigenous submarines and ships to Indian Navy will be contributing three ships to the Indian Navy in the next three years.
Defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) bagged the award for excellence in indigenous technology (Indian company) for its Shape Memory Alloys and also the award for its outstanding contribution in the Aerospace Industry.
The awards for HAL were received by its CMD R K Tyagi.
The award for excellence in exports was bagged by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) while the award for the best contribution in cutting edge edge technology was given to the Boeing Company (for its multi-role aircraft).
The award for excellence in indigenous technology (multinational company) was bagged by DCNS India for its Scorpene-range submarines.
The award for emerging company of the year was bagged by Belgaum-based Quest Global SEZ Private Limited while the award for top Indian SME was given to Astra Microwave Products Limited.
The award for best joint venture of the year was given to Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited.
Commander Retd V G Jayaprakasan, Managing Director Rosoboron Services India (which is into maintenance and repair of defence equipment employing around 250 ex-servicemen), bagged the award for the Entrepreneur of the Year.
CEO AVI-OIL Private Limited (which is into manufacturing of lubricants) was given the Lifetime Achievement Award.
HAL, MDL, BEL, The Boeing Company and Raytheon International INC were judged as the most influential companies of the year.
Trilok Desai, Publisher/Director SAP Media Worldwide Ltd said the awards instituted in 2011 will now become an annual feature.
