SME Times News Bureau | 17 Jan, 2017
Defence Minister Manohar
Parrikar on Monday said the partnership between the Defence Research
and Development Organisation (DRDO) and industries is transforming
India into a global defence manufacturing hub.
He said this
synergy provided the much-needed thrust for exporting defence
products globally.
"We are taking necessary initiatives
in this direction and I am sure that our state-of-the-art missiles
and weapon systems will garner the much-needed interest in the global
markets and generate foreign exchange," Parrikar said.
The
Defence Minister was speaking during a visit to DRDO's Dr APJ Abdul
Kalam Missile Complex here.
Parrikar, who also visited the
integration centre at Research Centre Imarat (RCI), reviewed ongoing
missile technologies and related programmes.
He said MSME and
private industries should tap huge knowledge and infrastructure base
of the DRDO for creating a self-reliant defence industrial
ecosystem.
He noted that the industries are significantly
contributing in the realisation of various defence products with the
know-how provided by the DRDO and few of them have even graduated as
lead integrators.
"I admire the initiatives taken by the
DRDO in signing MoUs with various universities in diversified
research areas and these initiatives need to be further strengthened
by frequent interactions for realisation of futuristic technological
products," he added.
S. Christopher, Secretary,
Department of Defence Research and Development, and Chairman DRDO
along with G. Satheesh Reddy, Director General, Missiles and
Strategic Systems briefed the Defence Minister on various
technological developments.
Parrikar congratulated all DRDO
scientists for the recent successful missions including Smart
Anti-Airfield Weapon, Long-Range Ballistic Missiles Agni V and Agni
IV, Guided Pinaka and Astra.
He complimented the Missile
Complex for indigenising various technology products and
strengthening the defence industrial base in the country.