Defence Research and Development Organisation
Also called: DRDO · Topic: Industrial Policy, Public Sector, MSMEs and Disinvestment · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is the research arm of the Ministry of Defence. It works under the Department of Defence Research and Development. It designs and develops military technology at home, including missiles, radars, sensors and AIP systems. AIP (air-independent propulsion) lets a submarine make power underwater without taking in air. DRDO matters because weapons designed in India cut import dependence and support self-reliance in defence, which is the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat. DRDO usually does the design and testing. A partner firm then does the large-scale production.
Example
Pralay is a quasi-ballistic surface-to-surface missile. That means it flies low and can change direction mid-flight, so it is harder to intercept. It was developed by DRDO's Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad. Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) produces it as a Development-cum-Production Partner (DcPP), which is a firm brought in at the design stage so it is ready to manufacture. In the same way, DRDO has built a fuel-cell AIP system for the Kalvari-class submarines.
Don't confuse with
- Defence PSUs (BDL, HAL, BEL): these are government-owned companies that manufacture weapons and equipment. DRDO mainly researches and designs them.
- Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur: this range tracks missile tests and checks their results. It does not develop the missile.