Aeronautical Development Establishment, a R&D unit of India’s premier weapons development outfit, the DRDO, can co-opt a partner from the Indian Industry to join in the development and production of the Rs. 1,000 crore indigenous medium altitude long endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) programme.

This is a welcome change where in DRDO can cut developmental times. While developing an UAV in the past, an Indian Public sector aeronauntical unit (PSU) delayed and refused its production, which delayed the project by two years and DRDO received a bad name. Subsequently, DRDO gave an open tender in the newspaper for private partnership. The PSU then approached the government and forced DRDO to come back to it again. This delayed the project by 4 – 6 years.

In order to reduce the time for design, development and subsequent Transfer of Technology to the Industry for bulk production of Medium Altitude Long Endurance UAV, Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has been authorized to associate with a Production And Development Partner (PADP) from eligible Indian Industries on a competitive basis. The PADP would work with DRDO during the design and development phase and absorb technologies. They would become the System Integrator and provide product support after induction.

DRDO has short listed four Industries Consortia through a transparent process and released Request for Proposal for PADP.