Tribune News ServiceNew Delhi, May 11
A top defence scientist today indicated that India’s nuclear 700-km- range Agni-I ballistic missile was not only all set for induction into the armed forces but that the country was also making major forays in developing land and naval unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and futuristic high-power laser weapon systems.
Giving details of the development of portable battlefield surveillance radar and multi-barrel rocket launcher Pinaka, capable of neutralising targets beyond the capacity of conventional artillery, as other major achievements of the DRDO, the scientist said these weapons systems were also in the process of induction.
Making these announcements at the DRDO awards presentation function here, Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister V.K. Aatre said Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had agreed to consider to the DRDO’s long-pending demand for an incentive package for defence scientists to halt brain-drain.
On Pinaka, he said the system had “hit the bullseye during the Army’s confirmatory trials in July 2002 and orders worth Rs 1,100 crore to equip the two regiments were expected shortly.”
The induction of the Pinaka system would fill the long felt gap in the range of 20 to 40 km artillery fire power, Mr Aatre pointed out, adding that India was also close to inducting beyond 60-km multi-barrel rocket system SMEARCH from Russia.
The Scientific Adviser said the Defence Ministry evinced interest in procuring 1,171 battlefield surveillance radars as the system came out with flying colours against foreign competition in the Army confirmatory trials at Mhow in January this year.
