India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has released a list of 75 technology priority areas to provide a major boost to domestic defense manufacturing and innovation, Ministry of Defense (MoD) said in a statement on Tuesday.
The DRDO is the apex federal agency geared towards developing new military technologies to meet New Delhi’s defense needs. It reports to the Ministry of Defense.
The agency said that achieving “self-reliance” in criticial defense technologies through “state-of-the-art weapon systems” is one of its “core” mandates.
The priority areas, as listed in ‘DRDO Technology Foresight 2023’, comprise current and futuristic technologies, including in the realms of:
Artificial Intelligence (AI),
Machine Learning (ML),
robotics,
bio-defense,
electronic warfare,
ocean profiling,
quantum technology,
space situational awareness,
warheads,
underwater defense technologies.
Futuristic Technologies Essential to National Security, New Delhi Says
The ministry said that the futuristic technology areas identified by DRDO were essential to strengthen the “security of the nation”.
“Unveiling the 75 technology priority areas will provide a major fillip to the defence manufacturing sector by encouraging the industry to indigenize and innovate on defence technologies in order to place India on the self-reliance trajectory,” the statement said.
The ministry said that the identification of these areas would “promote” military technology, design and development in the country with the active participation of industry and academia.
The priority list was unveiled at an event in New Delhi. India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan was the chief guest at the event, which was also attended by top academics and researchers from premier institutions such as Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).
Chauhan told the audience that “indigenous defense technologies” were really important for the Indian Armed Forces.