NEW DELHI, Mar 13: Major projects of the DRDO, including Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and airborne early waning system, are running behind schedule by up to 13 years.
This information was furnished in Rajya Sabha today by Defence Minister A K Antony in response to questions.
Giving details, he said the probable date of completion of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Phase-II is up to March 2015 as against the original schedule of December 2008 while that of Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) System to March 2014 from October 2011.
Similarly, the probable date of completion of Naval Light Combat Aircraft (LCA Navy) Phase-I is December 2014 as against March 2010 and that of Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LR-SAM) to December 2015 from May 2011.
In case of Aero-engine Kaveri, the date has been extended within the sanctioned cost and scope. The original date was December 1996 which has been revised to December 2009.
Antony said reasons for delay include ab-initio development of the state-of-the art technologies, non- availability of trained and skilled manpower in respect of ab-initio development projects and non-availability of infrastructure/ test facilities in the country.
As far as construction of submarines is concerned, Antony said, “There is delay, which has been attributed to delay in procurement of construction materials.”
The project is being closely monitored by Ministry of Defence and Indian Navy to complete it without any further delay, he said, adding, “Detailed information cannot be divulged in the interest of national security.”
To a supplementary on applicability of Life Cycle Cost in procurement of 126 multi-role combat aircraft, Antony said the matter was still in negotiation stage.
“We are verifying everything…At every stage,” he said, adding the government examines all objections raised by different ministries and even from outside.
He said procurements of the aircraft will take place only after government is convinced everything is per procedures.
Antony also informed that based on the studies and experience on the impact of delays in the DRDO projects, measures have been taken to complete the ongoing projects without any further delay.
Listing out the measures, he said consortium approach is being used for design, development and fabrication of critical components; three-tier project monitoring approach has been instituted in major projects and programmes; information technology and modern management techniques are being applied, among others.
To another supplementary, Minister of State for Defence Jitinder Singh said defence ordinance factories and defence PSUs work along with private sector to harness technologies available in the country. (PTI)
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