DRDO's Advanced Centre for Energetic Materials opened

He was speaking after dedicating the Advanced Centre for Energetic Materials facility under DRDO to the nation here.

Expressing satisfaction after reviewing the newly-built modern facility aimed at bridging the gap between demand and supply of composite propellents for future requirements of the country's defence programmes, the defence minister asked the scientific community to move with times and compete with modern countries in achieving self-sufficiency in this highly specialised technical field.

As a word of caution to the facility-handlers to ensure that even the smallest of the operations are not neglected at any point of time, the Defence Minister emphasised the need for improvement in control systems to reduce exposure of manpower to hazardous operations.

The Defence Minister also praised the cooperation extended by the local administration and the elected representatives for the timely completion of the project.

He also promised to look into the issues hampering the functions of HAL Airport at Nashik.

Dr V K Saraswat, Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister and Director General, Research & Development, said the composite propellent requirements of the country were being adequately met and the facility will be upgraded.