The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) will exhibit a wide range of 430 products covering strategic and tactical weapon systems, defense equipment and technologies developed at DefExpo 2022, which is being held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat from 18 to 22 October 2022. The main theme for this year DRDO’s participation is based on the 3D (DRDO, Designed and Developed) ecosphere, which will underline its strong links with both industry and academia. It will further showcase the advancements in technology achieved by its labs as well as its partnerships with industry in recent years, representing the high level of indigenization in advanced and futuristic defense products and technologies that contribute to the Aatmanirbharta in defence.
From 18 to 22 October 2022, DefExpo2022, the flagship biennial event of the Ministry of Defence, is being held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The 12th edition of Asia’s largest defense event will emphasize the theme ‘Road to Pride’ associated with ‘India’. 75′ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, encouraging industry and citizens alike to engage and contribute towards nation building. It aims to promote the story of “Make in India, Make for the World”. The entire event will showcase a range of indigenously designed, developed, prototyped and manufactured land, sea, air and homeland security systems and technologies.
In addition, DRDO will introduce several initiatives to deepen its strategic partnerships with industry and academia. These will include initiatives such as Technology Development Fund, Dare to Dream, DIA-Centers of Excellence and other similar schemes to support academia, start-ups, SMEs and large industries to continuously improve the level of technological readiness of current and future technology in the country. All these initiatives led by DRDO have led to the operational readiness of many Indian industries, especially in systems, radars, sonar, missiles, aircraft, etc., some of which will be exhibited at the DRDO Pavilion, DefExpo22.
At DefExp2022, DRDO will provide numerous static displays, live demonstrations, seminars as well as immersive experience zones spread across three locations including Mahatma Mandir Convention & Exhibition Centre, Helipad Exhibition Center and Sabarmati River Front. The venue of the DRDO Pavilion is Hall No. 10 of the Helipad Exhibition Centre. It will be divided into 17 display zones of different classes, including Immersive Zones and Experience Zones, to showcase 376 products. The 17 zones are namely Engines and Propulsion, Aerospace (UAVs, Fighter Aircraft, Surveillance Aircraft, etc.), Sensors, Equipment and Advanced Electronics, Naval Weapons and Systems (EW Systems and Sensors), Armored Vehicles and Ground Systems, Armament , Arms & Ammunition, Materials, Missiles (Cruise, MBRL, AAM, ATGM & MRSAM), BrahMos, Industrial R&D Partners (17 Partners-3 Start-ups & 14 MSMEs), Troop Support & Dual Use Technology (Soldier Support , LS products, Fire Protection, Firefighting, Fuel and Power, Food Products, etc.), Experience Zone (Simulator, Virtual Reality and Audio Visual), Software Artificial Intelligence and Cybernetics, Academic Zone, Academic Outreach, Industry Outreach and Public Interface.
This year, several technologies developed for land, sea and air systems will be showcased through Experience Zones – an immersive cinematic experience in an enclosed room. The Advanced Combat Aircraft (AMCA) simulator will be the first to be made available, among other augmented and virtual reality simulators for naval, land and aviation products. A holographic package providing a 3D experience of more than 30 defense products will be present in the hall to give an insight into the intricacies of weapon designs. Over a vast 1200 square meters. outdoor exhibition, 18 outdoor static exhibits (current products) will also be exhibited at the Helipad Exhibition Center. These include Border Surveillance System (BOSS), Laser Fence System (LFS), IRDE Tableau, BrahMos Air Version Missile, Mobile Autonomous Launcher (MAL) for BrahMos, CBRN Water Purification System, Composite Hull Infantry Combat Vehicle (CICV), advanced composites Modular Bridge System (ACMBS), Advanced 155mm x 52 Cal Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), CBRN Water Purification System, CBRN Reconnaissance Vehicles, 70T Tank Transporter, Wheeled Armored Platform (WhAP), Prahar Missile, Rudram III Missile, Fast surface response to Air Missile (QRSAM), Medium Range Air-to-Air Surface Missile (MRSAM), Mounted Weapon System (MSG), Unmanned Ground Mobile Platform (UGMP).
DRDO will present live demo and static display of equipment at Sabarmati River Front. There will be 5 live demonstrations of DRDO equipment namely – Portable Diving Detection Sonar (PDDS) with Electro Optical System (EOS), Imaging Sonar “CHITR”, Autonomous Reconnaissance Vehicle – Inland, Autonomous Reconnaissance Vehicle – Coastal (ASV – Coastal) and Ground Mounted Vehicle for weapons. While the 6 static displays of DRDO equipment on display will be AIR Independent Propulsion System, Virtual Reality Based Countermeasures Deployment Simulator, TAL Torpedo, Portable Dive Detection Sonar, Wet End Unit, Counter Drone System for IN – D4 Radar, Soft Kill System and Hard Kill System and passive IRSS device.
Finally, the India Pavilion at the Helipad Exhibition Center will showcase the combined strength of DRDO along with the public and private sectors. DRDO will display its 22 products at a static exhibition. These high value products will be exhibited in the form of actual products and will include – VIBHAV- Anti-Tank Point Attack Ammunition, VISHAL- Anti-Tank Stick Mine, PRACHAND- Anti-Tank, 9 x 19mm Machine Gun- ASMI, Mine Field Marking Equipment Mk II, Light Tank, Daksh Defuser, MBT Arjun Mk-1A, Light Machine Gun, Pralay, QRSAM, Carbine- 5.56x 45mm, AIP System- Air Independent Propulsion, TAPAS, ASTRA Mk-I, LCA Mk2 among others.
A seminar conducted by DRDO on “Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Defense R&D: A Synergistic Approach” will be held at Mahatma Mandir Convention Center in the morning session on 20 October 2022. It will be chaired by Hon’ble Raksha Mantri. Dare to Dream 3 winners will be awarded by Hon’ble RM. DRDO will exchange MOU with six IITs and Bharathihar University for setting up new DIA-CoEs in the presence of Hon’ble RM. The Dare to Dream 4 competition will also be declared open by the Hon’ble RM. Hon’ble RRM will publish several monographs and principles. During the exhibition, participants and visitors will witness a number of important events, seminars and discussions. Among them is one such event – Bandhan – designed to license out technologies developed by DRDO industry. DefExpo2022 will see 15 LAToTs and 10 technologies for 12 industries at its Bandhan event.
The exhibition will also host the 2nd edition of the India-Africa Defense Dialogue (IADD), to which 53 African countries will be invited. Also on the anvil is a separate Indian Ocean Region plus (IOR+) conclave with around 40 countries participating. Intensive interaction and ideas at seminars planned at DefExpo2022 with eminent panelists from government, industry, industry associations, states, academia, think tanks etc. will also provide important insights/takeaways/action points for further growth of the sector.
