India Strengthens Defence Self-Reliance with DRDO Torpedo, Tejas Engine Push

Having cleared the Defence Procurement Board (DPB) hurdle, the Advanced Light Weight Torpedo (ALWT), designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) may be discussed

at the next Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The ALWT is a much-awaited weapon system as it can be fired from ships or helicopters to damage and destroy enemy submarines. The DRDO is working on both versions, which have a range of roughly 10-15 km. Top government officials said the "development is complete and the user trials (by the Navy) are over." With the Navy satisfied with the trials, the next step is production, and Bharat Dynamics (BDL) is likely to manufacture it. Naturally, this is part of India's Atmanirbharata (or self-reliance) scheme, and the earlier the Navy gets the ALWT, given the increase in submarine capability of neighbouring nations in the Indian Ocean, the better it is.

GE engines for the Tejas

The Tejas is India's indigenously designed fighter plane, but the engine is American-- from GE, and there has been considerable heartburn in the defence establishment in India over the delayed supply. Without the engine, the Tejas cannot fly, even if the rest of the plane-- the airframe, the avionics and the weapons-- are in place. GE has said it faces supply-chain difficulties, which it is trying to overcome. So far, it has supplied only two engines. Now, sources said, things are improving. "There is a commitment to hand over eight engines by December 31 this year," highly placed sources said. The engines are particularly important as the Indian Air Force wants over 300 fighters (18 squadrons) of the Tejas, and the delays are a huge concern. The IAF, which aspires to have about 40 fighter squadrons (each squadron has 18-20 aircraft), is down to about 30 squadrons. The IAF plans to buy 114 fighters from a foreign firm, but when that will happen is uncertain. So, the Tejas (and the engine) becomes even more important.