DRDO seeks faster development of materials to keep pace with defence tech cycles

The chief of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Samir V Kamat, on Tuesday (April 7, 2026) called for a reduction in the development cycle of critical materials — from the current 10–15 years — to keep pace with rapidly evolving defence technologies and to strengthen India’s technological capabilities.

Addressing the CAPS–IMR Joint Seminar at Subroto Park, Kamat emphasised that materials are “key enablers” for advanced systems, weapons, and sensors. He noted that while system development cycles have shrunk to around five years — and even shorter in fast-evolving domains like drones — the prolonged timeline for material development poses a major bottleneck. “Unless material development keeps pace, integrating new materials into systems will become increasingly challenging,” he said.

Highlighting the gap between research and industrial application, Kamat pointed out that although significant work is carried out in DRDO laboratories and academic institutions, very few innovations successfully transition to large-scale production. He stressed the need to address challenges related to scalability, investment, and manufacturing.

Calling for greater self-reliance, Kamat cautioned against dependence on foreign technologies. “Critical technologies are often shared only after they have been fully used by others,” he said, underlining the importance of indigenous capability development to achieve ‘Aatmanirbharta’ and global technological leadership.

Emerging tools

He also expressed optimism that emerging tools such as artificial intelligence and integrated computational materials engineering could help shorten development cycles in the coming decade. However, he flagged manufacturing as the next major challenge, particularly in converting advanced materials into usable defence products.

Kamat further highlighted the strategic importance of rare earth resources, noting that China controls nearly 90 per cent of global supply — and up to 99 per cent in heavy rare earth elements critical for advanced magnets. He called for investments in extraction technologies to tap India’s domestic reserves.

Echoing similar concerns, Air Marshal Yalla Umesh of the Indian Air Force stressed that India’s aerospace manufacturing ecosystem remains heavily dependent on foreign original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). He noted that critical components, technologies, and raw materials continue to be tightly controlled by foreign entities, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable, indigenous solutions to enhance strategic autonomy.