I am delighted to participate in this International Seminar on Force Multiplier technologies for Naval and Land Warfare. The topic of my Theme Talk is “Multi-dimensions of Technology & Partnership”. The presentation will be in four parts. The first part discusses high Technology in India and its core competence. The second part is on India’s aspirations of Self-reliance in the defence system and the linkages between acquisitions and indigenous development. The third part visualizes the growth of technological capabilities in India with multiple partnerships and emerging industry complexes. The fourth part deals with the emerging battlefield and force multiplication with re-engineering business strategy needs.

High Technology in India

During the last three decades, India prioritized some regions of Technology – Space, nuclear, defence, IT, and agriculture. India put remote sensing satellites on its own PSLV and built communication satellites to meet requirements. India’s GSLV for communication satellites will be available in the next year. Similarly, India has acquired the capacity to build nuclear weapons and strategic missiles.

India can produce a series of defence systems, from small arms to certain tactical missiles, armour, electronic warfare systems, sonars, and torpedoes.

Software strength

One of the critical core competencies India has is IT. Several software products have been developed and integrated with weapon systems to enhance performance. Some of the software packages have been exported. Indian software houses exported software products worth 2 billion dollars in 1998-99 and. plan to reach 4 billion dollars in 1999-2000. Today, I want to convey that India has the experience of integrating high-performance software with sensors to enhance performance, compared to some of the state-of-the-art high-cost sensors. We have successfully used such sensors in the PRITHVI missile to achieve international accuracy standards.

Industrial strength and Centers of Excellence

During the last 25 years, our industries have depended highly on technologies from organizations or license production from abroad. Today, by doing specific joint programs, they have reached a stage of design, development, and production of various systems and have acquired technology absorption capability. Several Indian industries have received the ISO 9000 certification, and their products meet international standards. DRDO alone has started many design centres in the country. Similarly, we have world-class labs that can design and build microprocessors, devices, supercomputers, launch vehicles, and missiles. We have also established high-technology facilities with silicon and gallium arsenide foundries and software parks. Our technological strengths are our internationally known academic institutions, societies, and national collaboration ventures in robotics and artificial intelligence, electro-optics, and biomedical Technology.

Self-reliance in defence systems

Self-reliance is an essential tool for India with all-around technology denial regimes. Aircraft can be sold to India, but not the aircraft design and Technology, such as flight control systems. Now, tanks are available in India, whereas critical armour, design, materials, and fire control systems technologies are unavailable. Some countries can sell EW of vintage Technology, denying super components and mil-grade subsystems. Hence, the development has taken place with indigenous Technology. Technology restricted is Technology gained. We live in a strange world. Therefore, India has decided to focus on the self-reliance mission, aiming for 70% indigenous systems by 2005. In this mission, partnerships for development and production are possible.

Technology Profile & Industrial Complex

Due to Technology growth in multiple mission-oriented R&D institutions and industrial partners, India has rapidly progressed from armour development to reentry technology and electronic warfare systems. This can be further enhanced with an intensive partnership with industries and international collaborations through joint ventures.

The Defence Industry complex will emerge with integrated establishments of Defence R&D, defence production, and Indian Industry with a consortium approach to developing core competence and critical and strategic infrastructure. The defence industry complex will need better performance, quality, cost-effectiveness, and reduced cycle time. DRDO has opened eight laboratories to transfer Technology to Industry in multiple areas to provide a competitive edge to the Industry.

Emerging battlefield scene

The future warfare environment will be technologically intensive. In the coming decade, weapon effectiveness will decide military strength in time. The candidates governing the high technology warfare will be the missile systems, UAV, EW and IT, and the precision delivery systems. The Force Multiplication is based on the platform and existing and future sensors, radars, sonars, and seekers. A suitable mix of these will provide force multiplication. For example, it is possible to have UAVs with electro-optic sensors IR, sensors and synthetic aperture radar for their primary reconnaissance role. But UAVs can also be combined with EW systems or even deliver a specific payload type.

Re-engineering and Business strategy

A developing country has a mission to become a developed country. The developed country would like to sustain its developed status. Both have a unique, identical need for production and marketing the products. Hence, they must coexist and become development partners through a win-win approach.

India, like any other country, has two major requirements. The defence systems should have affordability & cost-effectiveness coupled with performance. Of course, with the increasing global competition, we witness many business houses merging, collaborations coming in and strategic business alliances taking place. India’s strength of technology base, cost-effectiveness, and partnership with certain countries will mutually enhance business opportunities. The central theme we would like to focus on today is the technology collaborations between Indian establishments and partner countries through co-development and joint ventures.

Concluding Remarks

Science and Technology is indeed a great gift to humanity. The technological partnership is essential for the nations’ mutual economic prosperity. Scientists, technologists, and industrialists from various countries must join to combat technology denial regimes.

PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU (DEFENCE WING)
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Source: Press Release
Date: October 13, 1999