Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) celebrated its 68th Foundation Day on 1 January 2026. Established in 1958, DRDO remains the backbone of India’s defence research ecosystem and has played a decisive role in advancing Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Defence.
Theme & Broader Significance
- DRDO’s R&D achievements have given a quantum jump to India’s self-reliance in defence technologies.
- Indigenous systems developed by DRDO have:
- Strengthened India’s deterrence capability
- Catalysed growth of the domestic defence manufacturing industry
- Enabled large-scale participation of private industry and DPSUs
Major Achievements of DRDO in 2025
Record Acceptance of Necessity (AoN)
- 22 AoNs accorded by:
- Defence Acquisition Council (DAC)
- Services Procurement Board (SPB)
- Total value: ~₹1.30 lakh crore
- Highest AoN value in a single year in India’s history
- Systems to be manufactured by Indian industries
- AoN is the first and most critical step in the defence procurement cycle.
Key DRDO Systems Granted AoN in 2025
Some major platforms and systems include:
- Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS)
- Conventional Ballistic Missile System
- Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile ‘Anant Shastra’
- Long Range Air-to-Surface Supersonic Cruise Missile (LRASSCM)
- Integrated Drone Detection & Interdiction System (IDDIS) Mk-II
- Astra Mk-II (Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile)
- Anti-Tank NAG Missile (Tracked) Mk-2
- Advanced Light Weight Torpedo
- Processor-Based Moored Mine – Next Generation (PBMM-NG)
- AEW&C Mk-1A
- Mountain Radars
- Full Mission Simulator for LCA Mk-1A
Major Contracts Signed in 2025
- 11 acquisition contracts
- Total value: ~₹26,000 crore
- Key systems include:
- Nag Missile System
- Ashwini Low-Level Transportable Radar
- Air Defence Fire Control Radar (ADFCR)
- EW Suite for Mi-17 V5 helicopters
- Area Denial Munition (ADM) Type-1
- HEPF Mk-I (Enhanced) for Pinaka
- Infantry Floating Foot Bridge
- Wargaming System
- Automatic Chemical Agent Detector & Alarm (ACADA)
- Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS)
- Several DRDO systems were also inducted into CAPFs, Police forces and NDRF.
Industry Partnership & Technology Transfer
- DRDO has issued 2,201 Licensing Agreements for Transfer of Technology (LAToT) to Indian industries so far.
- 245 LAToTs signed in 2025 alone.
- 13 new Development-cum-Production Partners (DcPP/PAs) selected in 2025.
- Total DcPPs awarded till date: 145.
Trials & Testing Milestones
User Evaluation Trials Completed / Near Completion (2025)
- Pralay Surface-to-Surface Missile
- Akash-NG SAM
- Pinaka Guided Extended Range Rocket
- Advanced Light Weight Torpedo
- MPATGM
- Border Surveillance System (BOSS)
- Software Defined Radio (Army)
- CBRN Water Purification System
- EW Systems (Plains & Deserts)
- Integrated Combat Suits for Submarines
Systems in Advanced Development / Trials Stage
- Indian Light Tank
- VSHORADS
- VL-SR-SAM
- NASM-SR
- Rudram-2 Air-to-Surface Missile
- ULPGM-V3
- Gaurav Long-Range Glide Bomb
- Long-Range & VHF Surveillance Radars
- High Power Microwave Systems
- OBOGS-centric ILSS for LCA
- Automatic Fire Protection System for Dornier-228
Testing Infrastructure & Industry Access
- DRDO opened its test facilities to industry.
- 4,000+ tests conducted for:
- Private industries
- Defence PSUs (DPSUs)
- Reflects a shift towards collaborative defence R&D ecosystem.
Academia & Research Ecosystem
- 15 DRDO–Industry–Academia Centres of Excellence operational.
- In 2025:
- 66 new projects sanctioned
- Total cost: ₹228 crore
- 214 researchers engaged
- Cumulative status:
- 341 projects
- ₹1,218 crore
- 1,255 researchers
- 65 academic institutions
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
- Established: 1958
- Ministry: Ministry of Defence
- Motto: Balasya Mulam Vigyanam (Strength lies in science)
- Structure:
- 41 laboratories
- 5 DRDO Young Scientist Laboratories (DYSLs)
Seven Technology Clusters of DRDO
- Aeronautics Systems
- Missiles & Strategic Systems
- Naval Systems & Materials
- Micro-Electronic Devices & Computational Systems
- Armament & Combat Engineering Systems
- Electronics & Communication Systems
- Soldier Support Systems