L&T to set up research facility for weapon systems

MUMBAI: Heavy engineering giant Larsen & Toubro (L&T) will set up a major research facility that will conceptualise weapon systems developed by government agency DRDO for commercial production.

"We are not looking to set up something parallel to DRDO. It will be complementary," L&T Board Member M V Kotwal told PTI.

"As far as investments are concerned, we are ready. Once the green signal is given (by the government), then we can work on it."

Elaborating on the research facility, he said DRDO has got a valuable role if it restricts to real cutting edge high-end technologies, which India is yet to acquire. There are huge facilities and capable people in DRDO, Kotwal said.

L&T would concentrate on applying the high-end technologies developed by DRDO, he said. "We can take up that role rather than DRDO wasting its time."

The premier defence research agency should look at front-end, which requires large investments because that is what it already has, he said. "DRDO has huge facilities and capable people," the L&T official said.

But as far as applying those technologies are concerned, L&T can take up that role, Kotwal said.

"We are geared up for things."