Strongly urging the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to complete all its projects within the prescribed time limits, the Defence Minister A.K. Antony has asked DRDO to concentrate on high-end research, particularly in critical and strategic areas.

Speaking at a meeting of the Consultative Committee attached to his Ministry, he said, DRDO should also invest more time and resources in fundamental research, lay more emphasis on major mission-mode programmes for armed forces and pool together resources and talent available in academic and other R&D institutions.

Antony also asked DRDO to ensure that the initial operational clearance and final operational clearance of the light combat aircraft (LCA) are completed on schedule. Presently, 532 projects pertaining to mission mode, technology demonstrator, infrastructure facilities, science and technology being carried out by DRDO, are in various stages of implementation. While some projects have been completed, others are in different stages of production and induction, as well as in stages of development and trial.

“The recent successful launch of Agni-V missile has catapulted our country into an elite group of technologically advanced countries having such a capability”, he said.