Consequently, it manages to push quite a few decisions that are patently irrational. One example is the army being compelled to utilise the Arjun tank chassis for its requirement of self-propelled guns. Now these guns do not need the kind of engine power and protection that a tank must possess. Then again the Arjun chassis is overweight and frightfully expensive, yet the army must go along or get involved in a long-drawn battle that would end up further delaying the induction of these guns. We are today the only so-called modern army in the world, which does not have such guns. The case has been in the pipeline since the early eighties.

There are also examples of some needless development projects that the DRDO has undertaken. The outcome is an indifferent 105 mm ‘Indian’ field gun (we could have easily kept the ‘Indian’ out of it), a not-so-reliable family of 5.56 rifles and machine guns, the Pinaka being ordered this year when by the time it reaches the user it would have the dubious distinction of being an almost obsolete system. These are only a few examples.

The compulsions and logic of the DRDO developing long-range missiles or electronic warfare systems are understandable. There are technology denial regimes in place for such systems. Again, there are other technologies where we have no alternative but to vigorously pursue indigenous development. The DRDO thus must concentrate its energies on such projects. Research in growing vegetables, food preservation technologies and the like must be abandoned forthwith.

... contd.