The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Disaster management: DRDO to play more `pro-active role'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 02, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Disaster management: DRDO to play more `pro-active role'

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JAN. 1. The DRDO, with its vast network of more than 50 laboratories, is gearing up to contribute its expertise in national disaster management, particularly in such areas as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), communication and underwater studies.

Talking to reporters on the occasion of the DRDO's foundation day here on Saturday, the DRDLs director, Prahlada, said the DRDO laboratories could provide valuable assistance in disaster management, internal security and anti-terrorism.

In instances such as recent tsunami tragedy, Nishant, the low-cost UAV, developed by the Bangalore-based Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), could be pressed into service.

He said that in the wake of the tsunami calamity, there was a thinking in the DRDO that it should play a more "pro-active role" in disaster management.

Communication network

The communication network developed for missiles and the expertise gained in underwater studies by a naval lab in Kochi were some of the areas that could come in handy during times of crises caused by natural calamities.

Besides, the Visakhapatnam-based Naval Science and Technology Laboratory was developing unmanned underwater vehicles.

Night-vision goggles

He said that for combating terrorism, night-vision goggles were made available to the defence services.

Similarly, night-vision devices were being provided.

Meanwhile, the Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister, M. Natarajan, in his New Year message to various DRDO labs, said that 2004 had its share of success, proud moments, concerns and problems.

He said Tejas, the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), was continuing its excellent run.

The growing confidence of the users in Agni and Prithvi was now being enhanced by the performance of BRAHMOS and the recent successful trials of Akash.

Listing various other achievements, he said that DRDO naval systems spearheaded by Sonars and jointly developed by the BEL and the NPOL had been accepted by Russians as top class sonar.

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