DRDO will use a consortium approach for design, development and fabrication of critical components, Project Monitoring Reviews and joint funding by the military services to try to overcome delays in Defence Projects/Pgmes, as per the Indian Defence Minister.
Some of the DRDO projects that have missed their original timelines include:
• The LCA Full Scale Engineering Development (FSED) Program – Phase II was approved in 2001. It has overshot its budget by almost 100%. It was to be completed by 2008; the latest probable completion date is 2012.
• The Full Scale Engineering Development Program for the Naval Light Combat Aircraft (LCA-Navy) also overshot its budget and timeline by four years, from 2010 to 2014.
• The Interception, Monitoring, Direction Finding and Analysis System (IMDFAS) – Divyadrishti. Started in 2002, it was to be completed in 2008. The new date for completion is 2010.
• The Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP), begun in 1983, was to be completed by 1995. The revised date is 2010.
• The Kaveri Engine for LCA was approved in 1989 with a completion date of 1996. The latest schedule is 2010.
Reasons for delays and cost escalation include “technical/technological complexities; sanctions imposed, increase in scope of work, creation of more infrastructure, test facilities and their maintenance; change/enhancement in user requirements during development; deviations/failures during testing; [and] extended and long-drawn user trials.”
The R & D in any country does take time. This should not unduly alarm Us. We should however project realistic timeframe and funding needs at the time of project /pgme approval. Tendency in the Organisations to get the projects approved ‘at low outlay and least project timeline’ needs to be checked with a firm hand.
Svipja Technologies
Some of the DRDO projects that have missed their original timelines include:
• The LCA Full Scale Engineering Development (FSED) Program – Phase II was approved in 2001. It has overshot its budget by almost 100%. It was to be completed by 2008; the latest probable completion date is 2012.
• The Full Scale Engineering Development Program for the Naval Light Combat Aircraft (LCA-Navy) also overshot its budget and timeline by four years, from 2010 to 2014.
• The Interception, Monitoring, Direction Finding and Analysis System (IMDFAS) – Divyadrishti. Started in 2002, it was to be completed in 2008. The new date for completion is 2010.
• The Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP), begun in 1983, was to be completed by 1995. The revised date is 2010.
• The Kaveri Engine for LCA was approved in 1989 with a completion date of 1996. The latest schedule is 2010.
Reasons for delays and cost escalation include “technical/technological complexities; sanctions imposed, increase in scope of work, creation of more infrastructure, test facilities and their maintenance; change/enhancement in user requirements during development; deviations/failures during testing; [and] extended and long-drawn user trials.”
The R & D in any country does take time. This should not unduly alarm Us. We should however project realistic timeframe and funding needs at the time of project /pgme approval. Tendency in the Organisations to get the projects approved ‘at low outlay and least project timeline’ needs to be checked with a firm hand.
Svipja Technologies
Credit: Aviation Week.
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