TIRUPATI: From the stage of importing arms, ammunition, and Defence equipment, India is slowly, yet steadily, moving towards becoming a full scale exporter in 10 years, thanks to initiatives such as ‘Make in India’.
The industry can seek real time R&D guidance from Defence labs and start manufacturing by securing financial support under ‘Make in India’.
“The industry can also think of joint ventures if it does not have the required infrastructure,” said G. Satheesh Reddy, scientific adviser to the Defence Minister.
Emphasising the need for self-reliance, Dr. Satheesh Reddy said that the Ministry aimed at cutting imports by 30 per cent in the next five years and, simultaneously, upgrade technologically so as to become an exporter in 10 years.
On the current export potential, Dr. Satheesh Reddy said that the country should first metamorphose from being a technology follower to a technology leader.
“We have already excelled in producing Light Combat Aircraft ‘Tejas’, missile ‘Akash’, torpedo ‘Varunastra’, and radars. It is now time to let the world get a taste of our successful products,” he said while addressing the media on the sidelines of a session at the Children’s Science Congress here on Thursday.
On a buoyant note, he referred to countries such as Bangladesh and Vietnam evincing interest in the array of products.
Dr. Satheesh Reddy felt that universities, R&D institutions, and the industry should work seamlessly to achieve the goal.
“The institutions should identify the spark of innovation in students. The laboratories will have to translate the ideas into application-oriented prototype, which will then be mass produced by the industry,” he said.
“From a rocket to rodent repellent, it can be anything,” he quipped.
Dr. Satheesh Reddy saw materials, cyber space, and innovative and advanced manufacturing as promising areas, where the academia and industry should lay focus on.
Earlier, he began his address by paying tributes to his guru and ‘Missile Man’ A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
When the video of Dhanush missile, an off-shoot of ‘Prudhvi’, fired from a ship was screened, the students went into raptures.
Sri Padmavathi Mahila Viswa Vidyalayam (SPMVV) Vice-Chancellor V. Durgabhavani felicitated Dr. Satheesh Reddy.
Registrar D.M. Mamatha and SVIMS University Vice-Chancellor T.S. Ravikumar were present.
