What DRDO have achieved in 2016: A look back at a year: Section 1

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has had a busy year, and we look back at some of the most innovative technological solutions developed for the armed forces over the course of 2016.

HAL Tejas

The Indian Air Force inducted two Tejas aircraft into its 45th Squadron on July 1. The Light Combat Aircraft were jointly developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). The aircraft can take up a variety of roles in combat, and are supersonic. India has been developing the aircraft since 1980. Prior to the induction, the aircraft participated in 3,200 sorties  to demonstrate their capabilities.

Prime minister Modi said “Induction of indigenously made Tejas fighter jet into the Air Force fills our hearts with unparalleled pride and happiness. I laud HAL and ADA on the induction of Tejas fighter jet.


This illustrates our skills and strengths to enhance indigenous defence manufacturing.” The Tejas is capable of carrying four tonnes of weapons. The aircraft are capable of firing air-to-air missiles, and dropping laser guided bombs. The aircraft includes a head mounted display for the pilot, and a glass cockpit on which realtime information is displayed. The Indian Air Force has placed an order for an additional 20 Tejas fighter jets.

Indian Navy goes green with biodiesel patrolling boats

The Indian Navy has created a Energy and Environment Cell that is tasked with making the Indian Navy an environmentally responsible force. The Indian Navy took the opportunity of World Environment Day to outline some of the initiatives to reduce the carbon footprint of the Indian Navy. During the International Fleet Review held at Visakhapatnam in, the Navy showcased Fast Interception Craft (FIC) in the Presidential column that were running on biodiesel.

The biodiesel was produced by the Defence Institute of Bio-Energy Research (DIBER). The efficiency and performance of the machines and Navy equipment using the biodiesel is not compromised, but there are environmental benefits to using alternative fuels. The FIC running on biodiesel are marked with two green stripes, and are known as the Green Strike Force.

Indigenous Sonar Dome

The Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar flagged off the first indigenous composites Sonar dome during the Defexpo 2016. India joined a select group of countries capable of manufacturing such structures. The Sonar dome is attached to the bottom of ships, and scans the seas for submarine threats. The requirements of manufacturing such domes are technologically demanding, with a need for a solid and robust structure that is also acoustically transparent.

Devastating new Tank Ammunition

Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) and the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), research wings of the DRDO based in Pune designed new ammunition meant specifically for the Arjun tank. The Penetration-cum-Blast (PCB) and Thermobaric (TB) Ammunition were successfully test fired in Odisha, demonstrating the devastating power of the ammunition against concrete structures, fortifications and armour plates.

The HEMRL lab researchers new high energy materials to be used in warheads and ammunition. The newly developed ammunition uses atmospheric oxygen for the explosions instead of the oxidiser included in the compound, as is done in conventional explosives. This means that the resulting mixture is far more explosive for the same amount of weight. The test firing successfully managed to destroy a derelict tank that had been fitted with various sensors to measure the shock, blast pressure and temperature of the new ammunition. It was the first time in India that the effectiveness of the new ammunition was measured in such detail.

The research and development needed for manufacturing the dome was conducted by a Pune based DRDO lab known as Research and Development Establishment (Engrs) (RDE(E)). The dome was manufactured by Kineco Ltd, a composites manufacturing company based in Pilerne, Goa. The Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM) Process with a process monitoring capability, to ensure that a quality product was manufactured. Sucessfully manufacturing the Sonar Dome indigenously means that India now has the capability for manufacturing more advanced structures, such as entire ship hulls. There are land based and aerospace applications that stand to benefit from the advancement in manufacturing capabilities.

Varunastra torpedo

The Defense minister Manohar Parrikar handed over the Varunastra to the Indian Navy at the end of June. Varunastra is a ship launched heavy weight torpedo, also known as an underwater missile. The torpedo was developed by Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in partnership with Bharat Dynamics. The torpedo is manufactured by using 95 per cent of indigenous parts.

During the handover, Parrikar said “In these high technology areas, DRDO’s contribution with 95 per cent of indigenous content is an apt example of Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured category.” The torpedo was an important milestone in pushing India towards self reliance when it comes to underwater defense capabilities. The Rajput and Delhi class of warships can be equipped with the new torpedos, and future Anti-Submarine Warfare capable ships will also have the capability. The torpedo is capable of taking down stealth submarines in deep or shallow waters.