DRDO to develop naval fighter jet

Syllabus subtopic: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

News: The Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) has offered to develop a new twin­-engine deck-based fighter aircraft for the Navy based on the experience of the naval light combat aircraft (LCA) and it should be ready by 2026, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Karambir Singh, said on Tuesday. He said the Navy expected to have the first indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC­I) Vikrant operational by 2022.

Prelims and Mains focus: about DRDO, IAC Vikrant, Exercise MILAN

The naval LCA recently successfully completed the take­off and landing trials on the shore­based test facility (SBTF) in Goa. Adm. Singh said the current LCA Mk­1 was a technology demonstrator and it would further be put to carrier compatibility tests. And if it worked, whatever lessons they had learnt would be ploughed back by the DRDO into the new fighter to be developed.

On the need for a third aircraft carrier, Adm. Singh said, “As the Navy chief, I am convinced the country requires three aircraft carriers so that two are operational at any given time.”

New aircraft carrier

He said they were preparing the case for IAC­2 and finalising the requirements. After this, they would go to the government for Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) and it would be followed by design consultancy to decide the exact contours.

On the IAC­I, which is under an advanced stage of construction in Kochi, Adm. Singh said all ship­build issues “are over” and trials would begin now. “We are almost certain that we will take delivery by February-March 2021”, he stated and added that aviation trials would take a year after that. “We should have a fully operational carrier by 2022.”

Exercise MILAN

The Navy is scheduled to host its largest multilateral exercise, MILAN off the coast of Visakhapatnam in March 2020, for which 41 countries have been invited.

So far, over 15 countries have confirmed their participation. However, China has not been invited. Asked as to why China has been left out, Adm Singh said they invited “like-minded” countries with whom they have interacted earlier.

About DRDO

DRDO is the R&D wing of Ministry of Defence, Govt of India, with a vision to empower India with cutting-edge defence technologies and a mission to achieve self-reliance in critical defence technologies and systems, while equipping our armed forces with state-of-the-art weapon systems and equipment in accordance with requirements laid down by the three Services.

DRDO's pursuit of self-reliance and successful indigenous development and production of strategic systems and platforms such as Agni and Prithvi series of missiles; light combat aircraft, Tejas; multi-barrel rocket launcher, Pinaka; air defence system, Akash; a wide range of radars and electronic warfare systems; etc., have given quantum jump to India's military might, generating effective deterrence and providing crucial leverage.

"Balasya Mulam Vigyanam"—the source of strength is science-drives the nation in peace and war. DRDO has firm determination to make the nation strong and self-reliant in terms of science and technology, especially in the field of military technologies.

DRDO was formed in 1958 from the amalgamation of the then already functioning Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) of the Indian Army and the Directorate of Technical Development & Production (DTDP) with the Defence Science Organisation (DSO). DRDO was then a small organisation with 10 establishments or laboratories. Over the years, it has grown multi-directionally in terms of the variety of subject disciplines, number of laboratories, achievements and stature.

Today, DRDO is a network of more than 50 laboratories which are deeply engaged in developing defence technologies covering various disciplines, like aeronautics, armaments, electronics, combat vehicles, engineering systems, instrumentation, missiles, advanced computing and simulation, special materials, naval systems, life sciences, training, information systems and agriculture. Several major projects for the development of missiles, armaments, light combat aircrafts, radars, electronic warfare systems etc are on hand and significant achievements have already been made in several such technologies.