The national goal is to progressively increase the indigenous content of our weapon systems so that we restrict our external dependence for systems or spares in times of conflict’’, said Prime Minister Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee while addressing the D R D O’s annual awards function. The government is committed to provide the resources needed to support well-equipped defence machinery, he added.

Mr Vajpayee stated that the Indian scientists often had to face a difficult work and research environment owing to technology denial regimes and sanctions which forced them to develop indigenous technology. As a matter of principle, our nation has preferred this honourable option to that of stealing technologies, he asserted. He further added that our scientists and engineers must coordinate with the Armed Forces in order to create a strong perspective-planning base which can envisage and prepare for a wide range of alternative future security scenario.

Underlining India’s commitment to universal and non-discriminatory nuclear disarmament, the Prime Minister said that India never subscribes to concepts of military dominance or doctrines of mutually assured destruction.

Earlier, the Defence Minister Mr Jaswant Singh in his address appreciated the achievements of DRDO in providing viable indigenous options for defence equipment. He said that the scientists and engineers of DRDO did the country proud by successfully testing Agni II in operational configuration, providing the country a credible delivery system.

Terming the maiden flight of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) as a highly significant and satisfying achievement, the Minister felt that it was an accomplishment in the face of very heavy odds of technology challenges, embargoes, infrastructure and manpower constraints. Referring to the LCA project, Mr Singh asked the users, the production agency Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, the work centres, the certification agency and DRDO to collectively ensure that the statutory flying hours be logged on multiple aircraft, the Kaveri engine be qualified and integrated as scheduled and the LCA inducted into the Air Force by the latter half of this decade.

The Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister, Dr V K Aatre in his address said that DRDO’s goal is to ensure that the Armed Forces do not have to import defence systems for want of indigenous technology.

Referring to delays in major programmes, Dr Aatre cited technological problems, poor component device base, limited infrastructure and slightly optimistic estimation of timeframes as some of the reasons. He assured that the new programmes under consideration will have more realistic timeframes and cost estimates.

The Prime Minister, Mr Vajpayee gave away the awards that included the lifetime achievement and scientist of the year award, technology leadership and laboratory trophies to scientists, research organisations and private sector organisations.