India has reached maturity of tech for defence requirements: DRDO official

India has reached maturity of technology in realising its defence services requirements and it is necessary to exploit the potential of the private industry to increase the production rate, a top Defence Research and Development Organisation official said today.

"...we have been growing from nowhere. In the last two three decades we have reached the maturity to the international level, almost closer to the international level in terms of technology of aircraft, helicopters and missiles and Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV)," DRDO Director General (Aeronautical Systems) K Tamilmani told reporters here.

AeroIndia is an opportunity for India to showcase the strength in the Aeronautical field, he said briefing about the five-day aero show beginning here from February 18, which would be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Make in India" is the theme of the 10th international edition of the aerospace and aviation exhibition.

He said "now engine technology is one thing we need to focus little more, remaining areas we have reached almost closer to where we need, what India needs to build with the technology available."

With Light Combat Aircraft, Tejas, technology is available for any product to be realised for the future for the Indian Defence Services, either Air force or Navy or Army, he said.

"On helicopter technology - LCA has given us great input to decide whatever type of helicopter we are doing -- whether it is five tonne category or ten tonne category, India is capable of doing. All technologies are available including production technology," he said.

Stating that Unmanned Aerial Vehicle has been a successful programme though started a little late, Tamilmani said "today all the technology required for the UAV programme is available."

Tamilmani said "today with the success we have had in Nishant, Rustom-1 and Lakshya, we are going ahead with Rustom-2. Rustom-2 is going to fly in another two months...."

"We are going to launch in future a high altitude UAV called HALE which will fly much longer. With the technology generated through all these programmes I think India has now reached a maturity of technology in realising all these products, but it needs to be engineered appropriately depending on the requirement of the Indian Defence Services."

Pointing out the matured products that had either gone into production or that is production ready stage like LCA or UAV, he said "earlier we were getting it done only through the government sector, now there is a window of opportunity to take it through the private sector where maturity of private sector is far far improved compared to 10 or 15 years back."

He said it was necessary to exploit the potential of the private industry to increase our production rate, and achieve what Defence services require "at the earliest time possible."

To a question on reports about the possibility of moving Aero India out of Bengaluru, Tamilmani said "that (place) is always done on a strategic reasons, it cannot be decided just like that...I don't think, and in my opinion it may not be moved out of Bengaluru. Bengaluru being the Aeronautical capital, taking it out will be inappropriate."

DRDO officials said Indian LCA will be participating in the formation Flight Display followed by CABS AEW&C Aircraft at the AeroIndia.