Parliament panel to put defence installations in Karnataka under scanner

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: A 30-member-strong Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence is arriving in Bangalore on June 14 on a three-day visit. The team will have a critical review of the working of some of the defence installations in Bangalore and Mysore.

Among the activities of key units that would come under the team's scanner in Bangalore are: Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Gas Turbine Research Centre (GTRE) and Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR). In Mysore, the team would inspect Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL) and and Bharath Earth Movers Ltd (BEML). Interestingly, BEML is the only Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU) the team would visit.

Sources tell Express that the team, in addition to the performance of each units, would assess self reliance and indigenisation in defence production apart from analysing the scope of outsourcing certain activities. The ADE is spearheading India's unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) efforts with Nishant and Rustom as its star products, while Lakshya, a pilot-less target aircraft, is already into production.

The team will also be shown the complete array of products of some of the Bangalore labs under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). ADE has been entrusted with the task of showcasing some of key products of DRDO labs.

To a query as to how significant these visits by various defence teams are viewed, sources said: “Gone are the days that one could get away by arranging some displays and organising guided tours. Today, with so much of focus being given on self-reliance, the MPs are keen to know about our capabilities.”

On June 15, the team is likely to be given a flight display of Light Combat Aircraft (Tejas) at old airport. “The team members will hold discussions with ADA officials to take stock of the progress of Tejas project. A detailed brief on the Kaveri engine project is also being prepared, ahead of the flight,” sources said.

This is the second visit by a top-level Ministry of Defence team in the recent months with a 10-member team undertaking a six-day study tour in April.

Copyright@The New Indian Express

DRDO says DFRL will not be moved out

| By Anantha Krishnan M. | AVIATION WEEK |

Bangalore |  India | September 28, 2010 |

India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has decided to keep the Mysore-based Defense Food Research Laboratory (DFRL) within its stable, despite speculation that it and other life sciences facilities would be moved elsewhere.

DFRL supplies ready-to-eat rations to soldiers deployed in extreme and hostile conditions like Siachen, Rajasthan and during the Antarctica expedition. All its food-processing technologies have been passed on to Indian industries under transfer of technology.

Some observers had expected the facilities to be moved out of DRDO and placed under the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research as part of the recent restructuring of DRDO announced by the defense ministry (Aerospace DAILY, May 14). A faction within DRDO also felt that the labs could be moved out, primarily due to the overlap of work being done by them. But Dr. Prahlada, DRDO’s chief R&D controller for aerospace & services interaction, confirms to AVIATION WEEK that DFRL will stay with DRDO.

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