DRDO : India’s Top Defence Research and Development Organisation

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is an agency of the Government of India. It has the charge of the military’s research and development headquartered at New Delhi. Being India’s largest and most diverse research organisation, it is responsible for developing defence technologies. It covers many fields, like aeronautics, armaments, electronics, land combat engineering, life sciences, materials, missiles, and naval systems.

It’s moto is ‘Strength’s Origin is in Science‘. The budget and spendings of DRDO is roughly 1% of that of the US.

The scientists there make good use of the ‘reverse engineering’ due to the lack of latest technology and budget. This means testing the machines for their working and then manufacturing them at one-tenth of the cost.

It was formed 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).

In 1962, it started the first surface-to-air missile program of DRDO that was called Project Indigo. It was an Indo-Swiss agreement to develop intermediate-range surface-to-air missiles.

As India was enhancing its missile technology. The International body MTCR decided to restrict access to any technology that would help India in its missile development program. But it didn’t hinder it and DRDO successfully developed missiles like Prithvi, Trishul, Akash and Nag indigenously.

And above all, the BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile, jointly developed by India’s DRDO and Russia’s NPOM, is the world’s fastest cruise missile. It can travel at speeds of Mach 2.8 to 3.0. And most importantly, a hypersonic version is also under development. Namely BrahMos-II with speed of Mach 7.

This organisation has also developed an electrically powered and remotely controlled robot used for locating, handling and destroying hazardous objects safely. Its India’s first RoV(Remotely Operated Vehicle).

Lastly, it has produced a non lethal plastic grenade which uses resin from Bhoot Jolokia, one of the hottest chillies in the world.

Looking into history, DRDO had to stop many projects in between due to the lack of fundings and advanced technology. However, we can say that it has been giving Indian defence much-needed power.