Army Allocates Majority of 354 Projects to R&D Platforms Beyond DRDO’s TDF

The Indian Army has shifted its focus towards alternative research and development (R&D) avenues and in-house expertise for technological innovations. Dissatisfied with the outcomes of projects sourced from the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Technology Development Fund (TDF), the Army has taken a proactive approach to explore diverse platforms for technology-based solutions.

Two significant Army projects were terminated in the last six months due to unsatisfactory results from the TDF platform, as disclosed by a senior Army officer involved in R&D projects. Currently, the Army is facing procedural and bureaucratic challenges in five ongoing TDF projects worth ₹50.58 crore, with another project in the deliberation stage.

The TDF scheme, initiated by the DRDO, provides financial support and expertise for concept validation in two years. It encourages small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups to contribute to the development of indigenous state-of-the-art systems for defence applications.

However, the Army has expressed concerns about the efficiency and time-bound outcomes of the TDF utilization, prompting a call for a review and revamp of the standard operating procedure governing the TDF.

Acknowledging a shortfall in DRDO's ability to leverage the TDF for technology capability enhancement, the Army officials are exploring alternative avenues such as Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), Army Technology Board (ATB), and In-House Research and Development (IR&D) for weapon systems and other requirements.

Out of 125 projects shared at the Army command level for innovation, 54 design and development (D&D) projects were handed over to the in-house ATB, while only five were allocated to the TDF. Additionally, 50 concepts were outsourced to the DRDO, and 51 projects went to iDEX.

The Army is also pursuing 53 big projects through the Make I (government-funded) and Make II (industry-funded) categories, showcasing a diversified approach to ensure technological prowess and readiness. The DRDO, aware of the challenges in the TDF, is reportedly examining bottlenecks and considering reforms based on recommendations from the Prof. K Vijay Raghavan Committee.

HBL