Article Posted on : - Jan 28, 2014

An unrelated file photo.

HYDERABAD (PTI): Acknowledging the growing requirement of missiles, the city-based Research Centre Imarat (RCI) on Monday said the DRDO lab was gearing up to ensure that missiles are fully indigenised so that their production is scaled up.

"The RCI's big target is to stop most of the imports and reduce the import bills", Director (Laser Systems) K Rambabu told PTI here on the sidelines of a workshop organised to discuss "Modified special incentive package scheme" (M-SIPS) and strategic electronics.

Stating that India's confidence in the missile technology is very high, Rambabu said the county has demonstrated to the world that it is second to none in the world in the field.

"However, India's requirement for missiles is on the increase and there is a need to stop most of the imports. It is important to reduce the import bills and that is the target DRDO is aiming at", he said, adding that presently missiles are being imported for a number of applications and the import bills are high.

He pointed out the need to focus on non-strategic areas as well.

"Presently, RCI is looking into developing advanced technologies, including those related smart bombs and other new technologies.

"Since technology is being diverted to other application areas using some variations or changes or through upgradation of existing technologies, RCI is working to upgrade the algorithms and sensors, among others, to meet the future requirements", Rambabu said.

RCI is also developing a number of sensors like fibre optic gyro ring laser, gyro accelerometers etc. and is working to deliver medium range surface-to-air missiles, smart bombs, precision-guided munition and highly miniaturised avionics on a single module, he informed.

For the purpose, not only is the research and development is going on but RCI is actually looking at producing themselves and meeting their requirements.

"We are miniaturising whatever sensors and systems we have. We are combining four to five technologies together and bringing (them) into one small product... For the purpose, research is already on and soon will come up with avionics module for miniaturisation of avionics," Rambabu said.

Once miniaturisation has been achieved, diversification will be possible.

"This will be our own product. Since some of them are not shared by any country, there is a need to have our own technology. We are developing many of them and have mechanisms to develop better technologies and expand on this," he added.

Rambabu also suggested the need to have more private industries with quality standards to be part of this.

Presently, there are private industries already helping the DRDO but more and more players should come in, he said.

"The confidence of India is quiet high in missiles, and we are going to compete with the world," Rambabu said.

RCI is a major hub of defence research and missile technology in India.