- Empowered Committee clears 12 new strategic, aerospace, naval and EW projects
- Push for faster acquisition, import substitution and Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence R&D
- Industry-DRDO collaboration delivers major breakthrough under the TDF scheme
NE DEFENCE BUREAU
NEW DELHI, DEC 6
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has transferred seven cutting-edge indigenous technologies, developed under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme, to the Indian Armed Forces on Friday.
The technologies handed over include:
• Indigenous high-voltage power supply for airborne self-protection jammers
• Tide-efficient gangway for naval jetties
• Advanced VLF–HF switching matrix systems
• VLF loop aerials for underwater platforms
• Indigenous waterjet propulsion system for fast interceptor craft
• Novel process for recovery of lithium precursors from used lithium-ion batteries
• Long-life seawater battery system for sustained underwater sensing and surveillance
All systems have been designed, developed and extensively tested by Indian industry in close collaboration with DRDO domain experts and tri-services teams, reinforcing the TDF scheme’s objective of import substitution and critical technology development.
The handover took place during the meeting of the Empowered Committee at DRDO Bhawan, New Delhi, chaired by Samir V Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO. Senior representatives from the Armed Forces, Department of Defence Production and DRDO were present.
During the meeting, the Committee approved 12 new projects across strategic, aerospace, naval and electronic warfare domains, signaling the Government’s continued emphasis on reducing foreign dependence and accelerating Indian capability in critical technology areas.
The Committee also reviewed the approval processes under the TDF scheme and stressed the need to fast-track end-to-end project execution to meet evolving operational requirements. Discussions included the roadmap for transitioning developed technologies to acquisition and deployment, with recommendations for policy alignment and enabling mechanisms to ensure timely induction.
Addressing the participants, the DRDO Chairman reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthening indigenous defence innovation under the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, with a renewed thrust on rapid execution of TDF projects.
