DRDO projects miss deadline, some by over a decade: AK Antony

NEW DELHI: A number of Defence Research and Development Organisation ( DRDO) projects have missed their deadline, some by over a decade, Defence Minister A K Antony said today.

He told Rajya Sabha today that technological and technical complexities, non-availability of infrastructure and test facilities in the country, denial of technologies by more advanced countries and increase in the scope of work were the major reasons for the delay.

Among the major projects running behind schedule are Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Phase II, whose 2008 deadline has been extended to 2015, Naval Light Combat Aircraft Phase I, whose new deadline is December 2014 against March 2010 earlier, and Air to Air Missile, Astra, whose deadline is now December 2016 against August 2012 previously.

The deadlines for Airborne Early Warning & Control System has been revised to March 2014 from earlier October 2011 and it is December 2015 for Long Range Surface to Air Missile now against earlier May 2011, Antony said.

The Aero-engine Kaveri was supposed to be completed by 2009 but its deadline has been revised again. Its initial deadline was December 1996, he said.