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CAG blows holes in DRDO’s early warning planes

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The auditor has said that operational requirements specified by the IAF were not met and added that there has been a 70% time overrun. (Representative image)

By Shaurya Karanbir Gurung, ET Bureau, Aug 08, 2018
After a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into corruption allegations, the Comptroller and Auditor General has also cast a shadow on an indigenous program for Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system ordered by the Air Force.

In a detailed report, the CAG has stated that the project is yet to be fully realised even though it was conceived in 2002, leaving gaps in the IAF’s air-surveillance capability.

The auditor has said that operational requirements specified by the IAF were not met and added that there has been a 70% time overrun.

The central auditor also said selecting the Embraer aircraft as the platform created design constraints and caused the delays. It may be recalled that the CBI is probing allegations that kickbacks were paid in the Embraer aircraft deal that DRDO had struck with the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer in 2008.

The AEW&C is an airborne surveillance system which detects incoming hostile fighters, cruise missiles and drones much before ground based radars.

It also detects enemy troops build-ups, warships and directs friendly fighter jets during combat. The project for the indigenous development of the AEW&C of the IAF was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security in October 2004 at a cost of `1,800 cr. The CAG, however, said that the project’s total cost up till August 2017 was `2,425 Crore.
Under the project, two AEW&C were to be supplied to the IAF. Banglore based Centre of Air Borne Systems (CABS) of the DRDO was the nodal agency for developing the system.

The CAG says that the IAF had accepted the first AEW&C in February 2017. “However, out of the 18 operational requirements specified by the IAF, eight parameters could not be fully achieved by the AEW&C,” said the CAG report.

Some of these operational requirements are the primary surveillance radar for scanning the airspace to detect targets, the secondary radar to identify friends and foes, and the self protection suite to warn about incoming weapons. The IAF insisted that the eight parameters should be met in the second aircraft. The DRDO agreed to meet five of them, while arguing that the remaining three would not impact operations.

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Landour cantonment case: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar acts, notices soon

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The defence ministry is taking stock of the situation at Landour cantonment, Mussoorie, after a complaint by a serving officer alleged wrongdoing.

By Manu Pubby, ET Bureau | Jul 29, 2016,
NEW DELHI: The defence ministry is taking stock of the situation at Landour cantonment, Mussoorie, after a complaint by a serving officer alleged wrongdoing related to several prime properties at the hill station that he said may prove to be “bigger than the Adarsh Housing scam“.

Even as the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), which received a complaint by the estate officer of a DRDO lab located in Landour alleging a scam, moved on the matter, asking for comments from all concerned departments, sources told ET that senior defence ministry officials are tackling the issue.

As part of a fact finding mission, a senior official of the department of defence estates visited Landour after an ET story that revealed that cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar met defence minister Manohar Parrikar regarding a property dispute over a holiday retreat.
Separately, a complaint by DRDO officer Y Ashok Babu had red flagged several commercial establishments (hotels) running in Landour allegedly without permissions, posing a security threat and eroding green cover, as reported by ET.

Sources said that the cantonment board is likely to send notices to several properties located at Landour, including some owned or being run by Tendulkar’s aide, businessman Sanjay Narang.

Also, a change of stance is unlikely on ‘Dahlia Bank’, a hill mansion owned by Narang which is at the center of a property dispute with the cantonment board and DRDO establishment Institute of Technology Management.
Tendulkar, who frequently stays at the mansion, met Parrikar with regard to this dispute.

Narang has denied allegations of wrongdoing, while Tendulkar said that he went for the meeting but denied any economic interests in Landour. In the complaint sent by Babu, a Scientist D posted at ITM in charge of works and estate, to the central bureau of investigation (CBI) and the CVC, allegations of “Illegal high investment commercial activities” have been levelled. These are against a dozen properties, including `Dahlia Bank’ that is owned by Tendulkar’s aide Sanjay Narang.

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With DRDO chief S Christopher’s posting, govt signals end of extension era

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By Manu Pubby, ET Bureau | 30 May, 2015, 05.44AM IST

NEW DELHI: The government has sent a firm signal against the rampant culture of service extensions at Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) with the appointment of its new head, S Christopher, who has superseded the top four scientists who are all on their second extension at the country’s premier research body.

While questions are now being raised about the future of the four scientists – who are designated as director generals of different branches at DRDO headquarters and are several years senior in service to Christopher – the government has made its preference for promoting younger scientists clear

When DRDO chief Avinash Chander was removed from his post in January, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had said that one of the reasons for the change was that the government wanted younger scientists to come up. Going by this principle, the government considered only Christopher and AM Datar for the post, with Christopher making the cut on the basis of seniority, officials said.
While Chander was removed from the job with a terse message from the cabinet secretariat, the future of the four scientists on second extension – which allows them to serve till the age of 64 against the retirement age of 60 – may not be too bright.

The second top appointment at DRDO is also being watched with much interest. The choice of GS Reddy, a missile scientist, to the newly created separate post of Scientific Advisor to the Raksha Mantri, is believed to be part of a new deep selection approach to groom talent. patern et 30 may 2015

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Army’s fleet of Arjun tanks face technical issues; major proportion of 124 tanks in service not operational

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By Manu Pubby, ET Bureau | 30 Apr, 2015, 04.50AM IST

NEW DELHI: The Army is facing major technical issues with its ‘indigenous’ Arjun tanks, as a significant proportion of its fleet has become inoperable in recent months and are non-serviceable due to continued maintenance problems.

The Army, which reluctantly inducted 124 tanks from 2009, after the UPA government insisted that a token number have to be ordered to keep the tank development programme viable, has of late been having quality problems with the fleet.

The defence minister has been apprised of the issue. Sources said that the Army’s opinion is that while a large number of tanks are not operational due to technical defects, the fleet as such is not combat worthy due to reliability issues. “A number of tanks are not operational currently as transfer of technology (ToT) of several imported systems fitted onboard has not been done,” an Army official said.

The Army is surprised that quality issues have started arising even though the entire fleet came into service as recently as 2013 when deliveries ended. Given that the tanks are highly dependent on foreign equipment — 60% of the tank is imported — the failure to get maintenance technology means that the systems have to be sent abroad for even minor repairs.

It is believed that a meeting on the low serviceability rate of the Arjun fleet was conducted at South Block recently and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is aware of the problems. The Army has identified 96 problems, including 18 major ones. The minister has been keen to increase the efficiency of existing platforms available with the military given that there is a paucity of funds to procure new systems.

In IAF, he has personally intervened to ensure that the availability rate of the Su 30 fleet improves by at least 10%. A similar approach is being taken for the Army too. DRDO is, meanwhile, working on the development of a successor in the form of the Arjun Mk II.

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Manohar Parrikar tells DRDO to focues on core areas; says not to take up new projects

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By Manu Pubby, ET Bureau | 26 Mar, 2015, 04.52AM IST
NEW DELHI: Most of the military systems it develops face time delays and cost escalation but ironically the one thing that the Defence Research and Development Organisation is considered good at by the armed forces – constructing buildings and executing civil works – is now being taken away.

Sending a clear message to India’s premier defence research agency to focus on its core functions, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has instructed that the organisation will no longer undertake civil and maintenance works of other departments, including entities like the Brahmos Missile Company and the Strategic Forces Command besides the three armed forces.

In a terse set of instructions to DRDO headquarters, Parrikar has ordered that the organisation shall no longer undertake any new civil or maintenance works projects with effect from March 12, choking a large portion of its independent revenue stream.

drdo detailsIt is a lesser known facet of the organisation but DRDO has a works department that executes construction projects – from office buildings to missile storage units, launching areas and accommodation – worth over Rs 5,000 crore every year.

Beside projects for armed forces, DRDO has recently constructed the new AICTE headquarters in Delhi.

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PMO to replace existing public web-interface with new portal ‘PRAGATI’

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By Rajesh Ramachandran, ET Bureau | 24 Mar, 2015, 10.20AM IST

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By categorising and sub-categorising themes and departments, the new portal will help users to be more specific in their complaints.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch a brand new website for public grievances on Wednesday. Corruption in central government seems to be the top concern as the PMO replaces the existing public web-interface for the prime minister with ‘PRAGATI’, the new portal. The portal is getting launched along with the PM’s monthly programme of interaction with union secretaries and chief secretaries through video-conferencing.

While the Manmohan Singh-era public grievances portal, “PMO CPGRAMS”, had a category on “corruption/malpractice”, the new one will go beyond the simple label. The corruption category will have nine sub-categories on its drop-down menu just to register complaints of corruption within various government departments.

The departments listed under the category of corruption are telecom, railways, department of financial services, ministry of power, petroleum, heavy industries, urban development, road transport, rural development and others. This could even be treated as a list of departments with the highest potential for corruption.

By categorising and sub-categorising themes and departments, the new portal will help users to be more specific in their complaints.

For instance, harassment is further sub-categorised into minorities, SC/ST, backward class, women, children, differently-abled and others. Also, the theme ‘police’ would have separate sub-categories for corruption, atrocities and inaction of police along with reguregular policing issues like murder and rape.

The new architecture has the back-end bureaucratic and technological support to ensure that these grievances are addressed and pursued to their logical conclusion.

All the issues flagged by the PMO will be uploaded a week ahead of the “PRAGATI day”, which will be the third Wednesday of every month. Union secretaries and chief secretaries will have to offer their comments and updates about the issues by the Monday prior to the PRAGATI day.

Finally, the PM will get to look at the issues addressed by the relevant departments and then discuss them with the concerned secretary or the chief secretary through video conferencing on the third Wednesday of every month. PM’s directions on every issue will remain in the system for further follow up and review till the issue is closed.

The portal is thus designed to keep every complainant engaged with the government machinery at the highest level and to ensure systemic corrections through the redressal of the complaints.