The Hindu Business Line : Clear policy on investments, development of sensors favoured

India needs a clear policy on the scale of investment and development of sensors that are critical for its strategic sectors, Defence experts have said.

If sensors are not put in place, there is every chance of major strategic projects getting throttled, due to the prevailing technology restrictive regimes against India.

Dependence on imports

Though the country has developed a range of sensors that play an important role in the defence, space and nuclear sectors, dependence on import or challenge of indigenous development continues to be high, said Dr V.K. Saraswat, Chief Controller (R&D), Missiles and Strategic Systems at the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO).

“We are urging the Centre to formulate a clear policy to get basic elemental technology in sensors”, said Dr Saraswat while pointing to the fact that denial regimes especially under the missile technology control regime (MTCR) and the huge investment required to create infrastructure such as foundries to produce sensors, needs to be carefully answered.

Two-day meet

Inaugurating the two-day national conference, Sensors 2007, at the Research Centre Imarat (RCI), here on Friday, Dr Saraswat said “We have R&D institutes with know-how to produce sensors, but the volumes are not high, especially in Defence sector for industry to manufacture and make profits”.

In this background, the DRDO has been trying out the concept of GoCo (Government-owned company operated) units, which produce key technology products, that are not importable and not required in huge volumes for consumption.

Mr K.V.S.S. Prasada Rao, Chief of the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO), under the PMO, in his address said sensors technology has moved from normal to smart and now to brilliant sensors. India happens to be nowhere in the last and the country has virtually missed the bus in sensor technology.

Sensor technology requires timely and large investments. What is needed is a policy that allows mission mode, consortia approach to develop the required sensor as well as create the infrastructure. Earlier, welcoming the gathering, Mr G. Sateesh Reddy, Technical Director (Inertial Systems) at RCI, in his overview said at least 1,000 scientists from across the country and 40 industries were participating in the conference and exhibition. Mr S.K. Ray, Director, RCI, in his welcome address said the institute was involved in projects worth over Rs 450 crore in key defence technologies.

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