By IANS
New Delhi : India and Israel are engaged in the co-development and production of airborne radars due to time and cost overruns in development of an indigenous version of the system, parliament was informed Monday.
“Co-development has been initiated for limited series production and series production with ELTA Systems Ltd, Israel, which has experience in developing similar types of radars,” Defence Minister A.K. Antony said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is closely monitoring the project “at the highest level” to expedite it, the minister added.
Antony ascribed the delay in the indigenous development of the system, also termed the multi mode radar (MMR) to the “complex” technology involved.
“The technology of airborne radars is very complex. The MMR development is being done for the first time in the country. No prior expertise exists in the country in this field with any organisation,” he added.
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DRDO short of 383 scientists
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is short of 383 scientists and this “minimal shortfall” is being filled up through annual recruitment, parliament was informed on Monday.
DRDO currently has 6,872 scientists against a sanctioned strength of 7,255, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
“The attrition rate of scientists from DRDO is only marginally higher than that in private sector industries. Scientists who had resigned have indicated personal or domestic grounds as the reason for leaving,” he added
“However, it is assumed that increased opportunities available in private sector industries is the major reason for such attrition. There has been no substantial impact of such attrition on development of new products and defence warfare systems,” the minister maintained.