(a) whether there have been complaints regarding
quality of defence equipment developed by Defence
Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and if
so, the details thereof;
(b) whether any steps are being taken to improve
the quality of equipment developed by DRDO and if so,
the details thereof; and
(c) whether there is a mechanism to return equipment
that is found to be substandard by the forces after it
has been inducted and if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI A.K. ANTONY)
(a) & (b): There is a set laid down procedure in Defence
Procurement Procedure (DPP) for development of an equipment.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is involved
in development of state-of-the-art equipment for the Armed Forces.
DRDO developed systems are evaluated by the Users through various
phases of User Trials complying GSQR parameters. Subsequently,
each system is put through Maintainability Evaluation Trial (MET),
Director General of Quality Assurance (DGQA) and General Staff (GS)
Evaluation. Once the system is cleared by GS Evaluation, it is
inducted into Services. Production order to designated Production
Agency is released by the User only after trials and evaluations
have been successfully completed. Any short-comings noticed after
induction are attended by Production Agency. During the production,
quality is assured by the DGQA. Wherever the quality issues are
related to design aspects, DRDO takes corrective steps. DRDO
undertakes product improvement / upgrades as required by Services.
DRDO also provides handholding to Production Agency as well as User
through Production Support Group created in the laboratory for post
project activities after equipment is inducted in Services.
(c) Defence Procurement Procedures (DPP) do not allow induction
of a sub-standard equipment developed by Developing Agency as every
equipment goes through stringent quality control and various type
of trials defined by Users.