Nearly half of DRDO’s ‘mission mode’ projects have been delayed

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is working on 55 ”mission mode” projects as on date, and nearly half of these are delayed. To overcome delays, the government said, it has taken steps such as increased frequency of project reviews, increased involvement of services and production partners during development process and reviews, and revision in delegation of financial powers. The delayed projects are in the areas of air droppable container, simulator, tactical radios, light machine gun, air independent propulsion system, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk-2 (Tejas), torpedoes, the naval LCA, surface to air missile, electronic warfare system for fighter aircraft and ship, advanced towed artillery gun system, and unmanned aerial vehicle, it said. Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt in a written response to a query in Rajya Sabha on Monday said that ”as on date, the DRDO is working on 55 mission mode projects out of which 23 projects are delayed”. Of the 55 ”mission mode” projects, costs of 12 projects have been enhanced, he said in his response.