DRDO pays ‘made-in-India’ tribute to CDS General Bipin Rawat; hands over multiple home-developed equipment to forces

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Tuesday paid tribute to late Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat while handing over indigenous weapons to armed forces.

DRDO held a seminar ‘Preparing for Future’ as part of the iconic week celebrations Amrit Mahotsav. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was the chief guest while chiefs of three Services and other senior officials were also present at the event.

While speaking at the event, DRDO DG Dr Upendra Kumar Singh paid tribute to General Bipin Rawat and recalled that he had once said that the next war will be fought with indigenous weapons.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh handed over Made-in-India products to the Armed forces which included Counter Drone System, Smart Anti Airfield Weapon, Modular Bridge System and Advanced Chaff Technology.

Addressing the gathering here, Singh said, “I have mixed feelings of celebrations & sadness; on one side DRDO is celebrating ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ and on the other side CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 others are no more with us.”

“DRDO is working to prevent various present and upcoming dangers in a very futuristic and first-of-its-kind approach. We are adding a new chapter in technological warfare like IT, AI, and robotics, every day,” he added.

DRDO Chairman and Secretary, R&D, Dr Reddy said, “Indigenous High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UAV under development has crossed an important milestone today, it has crossed 25,000 feet altitude and within few weeks it should cross 30,000 feet. More tests planned.”

Conventional air defence solutions presently available in the country are not effective against small, low flying and slow-moving drones. Hence, DRDO has developed counter-drone systems for detection, deterrence and destruction of incoming drones.

Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW) is a low weight, air-launched, long-range, stand-off, air-to-surface smart bomb which has an engagement range up to 100 km.