DRDO delivers 7 Indigenous technologies to armed forces under TDF scheme

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Friday handed over seven cutting-edge technologies to the armed forces, showcasing India’s growing self-reliance in critical defence capabilities. These innovations were developed under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme, the defence ministry said.

The seven technologies span strategic, naval, aerospace, and electronic warfare domains. They include an indigenous high-voltage power supply for airborne self-protection jammers, a tide-efficient gangway for naval jetties, advanced very low frequency-high frequency (VLF-HF) switching matrix systems, VLF loop aerials for underwater platforms, an indigenous waterjet propulsion system for fast interceptor craft, a novel process for recovery of lithium precursors from used lithium-ion batteries, and a long-life seawater battery system for sustained underwater sensing and surveillance applications.

Each of these technologies has been designed, developed, and extensively tested by the Indian industry with close guidance from DRDO experts and collaboration with the tri-services. The ministry highlighted that the TDF scheme focuses on import substitution and the development of critical indigenous technologies, reflecting India’s commitment to self-reliance in defence.

The handover took place during the meeting of the Empowered Committee of DRDO, chaired by Samir V Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO, at DRDO Bhawan on December 2. Senior representatives from the armed forces, the Department of Defence Production, and DRDO participated in the discussions.

During the meeting, the committee conducted detailed reviews of several project proposals and approved 12 new projects covering a range of areas including strategic technologies, aerospace, naval platforms, and electronic warfare systems. The ministry noted that these approvals demonstrate the government’s focus on building domestic defence capability and reducing dependence on foreign technologies in critical sectors.

The committee also discussed approaches for approving various categories of TDF projects, underlining the importance of expediting end-to-end project processing to ensure alignment with the evolving strategic and technological requirements of the armed forces. Emphasis was placed on creating a seamless pathway from technology development to operational deployment, including streamlining acquisition processes for successfully developed systems.

In addition, the committee recommended policy measures and enabling mechanisms to accelerate the induction of indigenous technologies into service, ensuring that innovations move quickly from laboratories to operational use.

Addressing the participants, the DRDO chairman reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening indigenous defence innovation under the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. He emphasised that the TDF scheme plays a pivotal role in fostering collaboration between industry, research organisations, and the armed forces to deliver timely, high-impact solutions for India’s defence needs.

These developments reflect a continuing push towards self-reliant defence capabilities, with the DRDO and Indian industry working hand-in-hand to reduce import dependency, enhance technological sovereignty, and ensure that India is equipped with modern, home-grown defence technologies.