DRDO to develop next-gen indigenous technology for army tanks

The Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Ministry of Defence, Government of India is currently working on the development of an Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV), a new concept in military operations, according to P. Sivakumar, Scientist `H’, Director, CVRDE.

Talking to newspersons on the sidelines of InoVIT 2015, the State Level Science Contest for School Children on the VIT University campus here on Saturday, Dr. Sivakumar said that the UGV would be capable of carrying out surveillance and mine detection, besides operating in nuclear and bio-chemical area.

“We are developing the technologies and have completed all trials. We are asking the Army what it wants”, he said.

The CVRDE Director further added that the DRDO is in the process of developing indigenous technology for Army tanks, repair vehicles and surveillance.

  

Kalyani Group to set up defence manufacturing unit in Gujarat

The Kalyani Group will invest Rs  600 crore in a defence manufacturing facility at Dholera in Gujarat. Likely to employ about 2,500 people, it will include the capacity to upgrade and overhaul  armoured vehicles, with a plan to also make defence electronics and radar.

According to a memorandum of understanding signed with the state government on Sunday at the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, the operations are likely to commence by 2016. Amit B Kalyani, executive director, Kalyani Group, said the setting up of the plant would be in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ vision.

“We are confident that given an opportunity, we can become the manufacturing hub for the world,” he said. Kalyani Group has already formed a ‘Make In India’ project team, with senior executives to work on an import substitution strategy. It is targeting $30-40 billion worth of iron and steel products that are currently imported for the defence, energy, automotive, construction and mining equipment industries.  The group is undertaking its defence business through a subsidiary, Kalyani Strategic Systems.

The land at Dholera has been offered by the state government for putting up the plant. Kalyani Group’s annual turnover is Rs  12,000 crore and the plan is to increase thes business three to four times over the next 10 years, by embracing Make in India.

Beside the forging and engineering business of its flagship company, Bharat Forge, it is focusing on the non-automotive segments of the power, railway, aerospace, oil and gas, and defence industries. A large part of this will be on defence and aerospace.