DRDO Seeks Partners to Co-Develop Kaveri Engine for LCA Tejas Fighter Jet

In the process of scouting for a partner to develop higher thrust engine for its ambitious Light Combat Aircraft and
the present version will take to the skies in 2010, Defence Minister A K Antony said on Saturday.

"LCA will be a reality. For higher thrust engine, we must have a new engine. We are looking for a partner to develop this," he told reporters after inaugurating the new campus of Defence Avionics Research and Establishment (DARE), a premium research unit for avionics at DRDO complex. IAF and DRDO are working jointly towards this, he said.
IAF has already placed orders for 20 LCA and orders for another 20 was in the pipeline, Antony said, and denied that IAF was not interested in these aircraft. Earlier, addressing the gathering, Antony stressed the need for developing indigenous technologies to counter the challenges posed by import restrictions and technology transfers. He said the country would have to face problems if scientists did not develop indigenous technologies and the state-of-the-art equipment in the field of aeronautics.

DRDO located in Bangalore, an IT and technology hub, has been entrusted with the task for delivering high precision system to IAF, he said. Antony said scientists should aim to minimize costs and cut down time with minimum dependence on foreign assistance. "Our endeavor is to develop cutting edge technologies and we will give required support," he said.

Indian Army Officers to be Trained for Optimal Utilization of Space Based Resources

set to make forays in use of space applications, the Indian Army will take a leaf out of US forces' experience to train its officers in optimizing the effective use of space-based resources to meet its operationalrequirements.

A week after India announced setting up of an integrated cell to co-ordinate all military operations based on space assets, the Army's Directorate of Perspective Planning (DoPP) will organize a training programme on Monday for officers to make them understand the tricks of the trade, Army sources said today. To be inaugurated by Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Deepak Kapoor, the seminar would also look into the role of space-based applications in recent conflicts around the world.

"In particular, the use of space-based assets by the US forces in Afghanistan and Iraq would be debated. Army officers would learn the practices adopted by the US forces in utilizing space applications to counter enemies in its battles in Iraq and Afghanistan," sources said.

The meet, to be organized in association with the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), would witness officers discussing and imbibing "space-based application used by military's of the space-faring nations," sources said.

"It is imperative that Indian Army, being the largest user of space, exploits space-based resources optimally to meet its operational requirements," a note prepared by the DoPP to organize a day-long training for officers, said.