Addressing the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) directors' conference here, Dr Kalam said efforts were also progressing with high intensity for commencing the light combat aircraft (LCA) flight test phase and operationalising a high-tech virtual reality laboratory this year.

Dr Kalam said in spite of technology denials and sanctions, the DRDO along with its industry partners had established gallium arsenide and silicon foundries for making special grade devices, supercomputers and vital technologies required for missiles and other systems using indigenous capabilities.

``When Agni reaches the target area, when 5.56 mm rifle reaches the infantrymen, when the compo pack ready to eat rationis available at high altitude mountains and when the happo bags are provided to the soldiers to overcome high altitude illness, we see the demonstration of technological capability,'' he said.

Dr Kalam disclosed that though DRDO's mission is design and development, some of its laboratories were in operational readiness and worked in close coordination with the armed forces during the Kargil operations, whenever needed.

He felt the country's professionals in various fields produced the best results in crisis environment. Citing `green revolution' and information technology, he said, ``in our country, there is high efficiency and potential in certain pockets of high performnace. It appears though that this high performance occurs, when there is a crisis.'' ``Can we have it without a crisis environment?'' he asked.

In this context, he stressed on `empowerment'. ``Empowerment has multi-dimensions -- intensive education, training, delegation of responsibilities, celebrating the success of the young and aboveall when they fail at times, create the required environment to succeed. When we provided the empowerment, certain programmes yielded good results. Such empowerment must blossom in multiple areas,'' he said.