new Delhi: Nearly 67 per cent of Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) projects analyzed by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) did not adhere to deadlines, ranging between 16 and 500 per cent.
This is mentioned in the CAG report titled ‘Management and Results of Mission Mode Projects in DRDO’ tabled in Parliament last week. The report said an analysis of 178 ‘mission mode’ projects – high priority projects to be completed within a specified time-frame based on the requirements of a specific user (Army, Navy or Air Force) – shows that that in 119 projects, the original schedule was not followed.
In fact, in 49 projects, the extra time taken to complete the project was equal to or even more than the duration of the original schedule. In 51 cases, only one extension was sought, while in 39 cases, extension of the probable date of completion was sought more than once. In 23 cases the probable date of completion was extended three to five times while in six cases the probable date of completion was extended six to seven times.
“The practice of seeking multiple extensions defeats the very purpose of projects taken up under the mission mode category,” the report said. It added that these extensions were sought largely due to delays due to frequent changes in design specifications, delays in completion of user trials and placing of supply orders.
In 11 out of 119 delayed projects, approval from the competent authority for extension of time limit was not taken even after expiry, though the project activities continued. In 52 cases where extension was taken, the process of revision of probable date of completion was initiated after the expiry of the deadline in violation of the guidelines.
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Extended lead time, higher cost
“Delay in completion of projects due to obsolescence of technology or users meeting their requirement by importing required products has a serious impact on product acceptance by users,” the CAG report said.
The auditor noted that large scale non-compliance of procedures for Project Formulation and Management (PPFM) clearly indicates that the determination of the Original Potential Date of Completion (PDC), as being followed in DRDO, “is flawed and PDC extensions are taken as a routine matter, which vitiates the spirit of the relevant provisions in PPFM.
Audit observed that due to inordinate delay in completion of projects, the expenditure incurred on development of technology in various cases did not represent value for money, and users at times had to resort to importing the required product to meet the requirements Was.
For example, the Ministry of Defense approved a project in February 2011 for the design and development of a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and the development of an Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) at a total cost of Rs 1,540.74 crore. Was given PDC of 66 months (August 2016).
The project was to be executed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment, Bengaluru in collaboration with the Defense Electronics Applications Laboratory (DEAL), Dehradun based on the requirements prepared in 2008 and subsequently revised in 2011.
It was proposed that 76 UAVs would be developed for the forces – Army, Navy and Air Force – and the Army was designated to oversee development.
“The project failed to meet the stipulated timeline and was plagued by multiple issues related to the airframe, engine, payload and Line Replacement Units (LRU), as a result of which the PDC was extended five times till 2020,” the CAG said. That in November 2020, the PDC was again revised to August 2023. The cost of the project was also revised to Rs 1,786 crore.
The modifications were largely due to increase in “all-up” weight (total weight of the aircraft), delay in procurement of import payloads, denial of export of critical items, delay in completion of ATR facility and requirement of additional spares for flight tests. There were reasons.
The audit found that a total of 110 flight tests were conducted under the project till August 2020, however the UAV failed to meet the prescribed requirements.
“…even after completion in more than nine years from the date of sanction and having spent Rs 942 crore, the project is yet to meet user requirements… which is indicative of the challenges DRDO has to actively transition into cutting There is a need to address form-edge technology in usable weapon platforms,” the CAG said, adding that till the successful completion of the project, the services would have to depend on private/foreign vendors to meet their immediate operational requirements.
Similarly, the report states that the development of the HELINA missile – a third-generation fire-and-forget class anti-tank guided missile system mounted on the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) – was envisaged in 2006 and approved by the Ministry of Defense in 2008. December 2010 deadline, was yet to be delivered in August 2021.
In the flight tests conducted in April this year, the Helina missile was tested successfully indigenously developed Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) in Ladakh.
In another instance, the Ministry in October 2008 approved a project for development of Ring Laser Gyro (RLG) based Inertial Navigation System (INS) for submarines (SRINS) at a cost of Rs 45.50 crore with PDC by October 2013. Was. And later extended till October 2014.
In January 2015, DRDO was informed that the INS on the submarine was to be upgraded with an imported sub-system due to the delay.
“Thus, due to delay in development of SRINS under the project, even after spending Rs 22.75 crore, the Navy had to import it to meet its requirements,” the CAG said. The original PDC also has implications for the Defense Services in their operational planning.
(Editing by Anumeha Saxena)
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