Defence ยท GS3
Transfer of DRDO missile technologies to industry
One line
The Defence Minister approved transfer of DRDO-developed technologies for conventional missile systems to qualified Indian industry for domestic production.
Summary
Research becomes defence capability only when a system can be manufactured, maintained, upgraded, and supplied at scale. Technology transfer aims to increase domestic value addition and industrial participation, including by MSMEs, but it also needs certification, quality assurance, security controls, and absorptive capacity.
PYQ pattern
UPSC defence questions often test indigenisation through institutions, procurement categories, and technology stages. Use the official UPSC archive.
Core notes
- Transfer of Technology gives an industrial partner the rights or know-how needed to manufacture a developed system under agreed conditions.
- DRDO develops and demonstrates technologies. The armed forces define operational requirements and users, while industry supports production and lifecycle maintenance.
- A conventional missile may include propulsion, guidance, navigation, control, warhead, sensors, and launch systems.
- A transferred technology is not an operational missile until production, acceptance testing, induction, and deployment occur.
Prelims lens
- DRDO is a research and development organisation under the Ministry of Defence.
- Transfer of Technology is different from procurement and export.
- Development, production, induction, and deployment are separate stages.
MCQ 1
Technology transfer from DRDO to industry is intended to:
- Enable domestic production.
- Increase industrial participation and value addition.
- A. 1 only
- B. 2 only
- C. Both 1 and 2
- D. Neither 1 nor 2
Reveal answerHide answer
C
Both objectives were stated in the release on transferring missile technologies to qualified Indian industry.
MCQ 2
Which sequence is most accurate?
- A. Research, development, production, acceptance testing, induction
- B. Induction, research, production, design
- C. Export, testing, research, requirement setting
- D. Deployment, prototype, budget, discovery
Reveal answerHide answer
A
A technology must move through development and industrial production before acceptance and induction. The exact programme sequence can vary, but deployment is not the first stage.
Mains
Question, 10 marks, 150 words: Why is the absorption of defence technology by domestic industry as important as its development in government laboratories?
Approach:
- Explain development, technology transfer, production, and induction.
- Discuss scale, supply security, maintenance, upgrades, jobs, and MSME participation.
- Examine certification, quality, security, finance, IP, and industrial capacity.
- Recommend testing support, vendor development, lifecycle contracts, and accountable performance milestones.