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DRDO scouts for R&D partners

On the lookout for collaborators in six advanced military technologies

Published - February 18, 2019 10:05 pm IST

BENGALURU - KARNATAKA - 18/02/2019 :   The Yakovlevs Aerobatic Display Team, participating in the biennial air show - Aero India 2019, rehearsal ahead of the airshow at Air Force Station, Yelahanka, in Bengaluru on February 18, 2019.   Photo: K. Murali Kumar / The Hindu

BENGALURU - KARNATAKA - 18/02/2019 : The Yakovlevs Aerobatic Display Team, participating in the biennial air show - Aero India 2019, rehearsal ahead of the airshow at Air Force Station, Yelahanka, in Bengaluru on February 18, 2019. Photo: K. Murali Kumar / The Hindu

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is looking for potential partners to co-develop an engine for its planned Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and five other future technologies, its chairman G. Satheesh Reddy said on Monday.

It is on the lookout for collaborators to realise the other military technologies that it hopes to have in around five years — Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs) and UAVs, materials, sensors, avionics, and artificial intelligence, he said at the inauguration of a two-day international seminar connected with Aero India 2019.

“In all six areas, we are looking for partners with the capability and experience, within the country or outside. An aeroengine of the 110-kilo Newton type that we want for the AMCA is not available today. We will evaluate and involve them in research and development. Materials development is another very important area for making aircraft or missiles light and stealthy [or undetected],” he said on the sidelines of the seminar on emerging frontiers in aerospace technologies.

Dr. Reddy, who is also secretary, Department of Defence R&D, said industry would be enlisted at the beginning of a project so that it can begin production as a natural partner. At present, the focus is on consolidating ongoing R&D activities and ensuring they reach the logical end, he added.

Innovators tapped

He said indigenous technologies were being given a push. Minor innovators and startups are also being tapped for new concepts that the DRDO can try out. The new time-bound ‘Dare to Dream’ challenge has received 1,000 responses from individuals and startups.

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