Countering common perceptions regarding defence scientists’ failure in providing battle worthy missiles to the armed forces, DRDO on Thursday claimed to have too little money to carry out high end strategic research.

Though the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) received Rs 5857 crore – approximately six per cent of the 2007-08 defence budget of Rs 96000 crore – from the Centre in the current fiscal, its chief Dr M Natarajan said only two per cent of the budget is actually available for research.

Besides running an organisation with 50 odd laboratories and 7000 scientists, the remaining funds were utilised to produce deliverable systems like Agni and Prithvi missiles for the armed forces, Dr Natarajan said.

“The money available with us is too little for research, which is practically one third of our total budget,” he said at the 95th session of the Indian Science Congress here on Thursday.

Over the last five years, the defence R&D budget has increased from Rs 3173 crore in 2001-02 to Rs 5314 crore in 2005-06. In comparison USA spends 16 per cent of its defence budget – a whopping $ 420 billion – on strategic research, whereas 20 per cent of China’s defence expenditure, 29 billion dollars was utilised on research.

Even a small country like Israel, with whom India maintains a healthy military relationship, spends 9-11 per cent of its defence budget on R&D, Dr Natarajan said. Despite such a meagre research budget, DRDO is often questioned overs its failure in delivering the main battle tank Arjun, indigenous aircraft engine Kaveri and missiles like Trishul, Aakash and Nag.

Attracting flak

DRDO has also attracted flak for delay in the light combat aircraft (LAC) project, first proposed in the 70s. Though the Indian Air Force hopes to have the first LCA squadron by 2010, a section within the armed forces has doubts. The agency is also exploring the possibility of developing an unmanned vehicle for underwater surveillance.