NEW DELHI, May 15 (UPI) -- India has said it will begin producing cutting-edge, high-tech weaponry, sensors, robotics and propulsion systems.
The Hindu newspaper said Monday there are also plans to develop precision-guided munitions and unmanned vehicle technologies in the 11th and 12th plan periods.
"The government was studying the possibility of outsourcing some of the tasks assigned to research facilities to industry," said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, opening the new headquarters of the Defense Research and Development Organization. "This will enable our institutions to focus on development of technology, while application, industrialization and related aspects are devolved to industry."
A news report said as a critical component of success in this endeavor was talented scientists, senior officials were trying to find ways to make careers in science more attractive.
"Apart from fiscal and career incentives, we are willing to consider mobility between such institutions and academia, as well from research institution to production and marketing sectors. My own scientific advisory council is also deliberating this question," Singh said.
He said the fact that the Defense Research and Development Organization's list included propulsion systems; camouflage and stealth technologies; sensors and micro-electromechanical systems; precision-guided munitions; robotics; and unmanned vehicle technologies illustrated its growing confidence in these fields.
Such confidence was essential to meet the challenges posed both by the pace of evolution of military and dual-use technology and the rapidity with which trans-national actors and unconventional forces were emerging and mutating as threats to international order, Singh said.
The prime minister advised the Defense Research and Development Organization to enter into partnerships with foreign and domestic institutions to develop high-technology products.
