We have great potential to export missiles to friendly nations: Saraswat

Some nations have evinced interest in importing Akash surface-to-air missile: Saraswat

WELL DONE: Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister V.K. Saraswat greeting Programme Director, Agni-V and Chief Controller (Missiles and Strategic Systems, DRDO), Avinash Chander during a felicitation function in Hyderabad on Saturday. Photo: Mohammed Yousuf

There is tremendous potential to export some missiles and defence technologies developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to friendly nations after meeting the needs of the country, according to V.K. Saraswat, Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister.

Talking to journalists on the sidelines of ‘Aerospace Luminary Lecture' organised by the Hyderabad Chapter of the Aeronautical Society of India here on Saturday, Dr. Saraswat said already some nations had evinced interest in importing the Akash surface-to-air missile. However, no commitment could be given today as a large number of systems were required for the country.

Dr. Saraswat said the export potential could be tapped in the years to come once there was real output in terms of numbers and quality. He, however, pointed out that the export policy would be very restrictive.

Referring to the successful launch of Agni-V, RISAT-I and the flight test of the naval variant of the Light Combat Aircraft, he said April was a great month for aeronautical and aerospace sectors in the country. Besides taking India's strategic defence preparedness to a higher level, Agni-V provided the capability to launch long-range missiles with multiple warheads, anti-satellite weapons and launch satellites on demand. The success of Agni-V also gave confidence that the country was not dependent on any other nation as far as missile technology was concerned. Likewise, the successful flight test of the naval variant of LCA demonstrated major technology capability of the aircraft taking off and landing on the deck of a ship.

LRSAM trial

He said another flight trial of Lone-Range Surface–to-air Missile (LRSAM) would be conducted in June, followed by a series of tests in 2013. It was expected to be inducted in 2014. The Medium Range Surface-to-air Missile would be ready by 2015.

He lauded the contribution around 15 industries from Hyderabad in the success of the Agni-V missile.

Dr. Saraswat and team members of Agni-V Avinash Chander, Programme Director, Agni-V and Chief Controller (Missiles and Strategic Systems (DRDO), V.G. Sekaran, Director, Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL) and S.P. Dash, Director, DLRL, were felicitated.