DefExpo 2010. It is time for India to project its growing requirement of military weapons and systems once again. And also to show that it is doing the needful steadily.

Just a few days before this Land and Naval show is set to open on Feb 15, India successfully conducted a fourth test of its Agni-III 3,500-km missile, and announced that it is also going in for a longer 5,000-km range missile. That is just about what an Inter Continental Ballistic Missile is but the government’s top defence scientist, V K Saraswat, also said that India had no intention to develop ICBMs as there was no perceived requirement.

Dr Saraswat is also the Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister as well as the head of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which undertakes weapon development programmes for the Indian Armed Forces.

Understandably, India’s military ambitions are limited to what is described as dissuasive deterrence. But Dr Saraswat also indicated that DRDO scientists were active in precision technologies and that India had the capability to develop an Anti-Satellite weapon but would not test because of the resultant debris.

DRDO scientists are doing well. It is taking part in a big way to showcase its recent achievements, particularly in missiles. It has got additional budgets and collaboration offers from several countries. What DRDO develops however is a prototype and it is up to the industry to fine-tune a product or tweak its technology with proper tooling and experience. That has been a big weakness so far. Many years ago, I saw a rifle made by Ordnance Factories Board having visible welding marks. State-run defence units need new tooling, new mindsets and new enthusiasm.

The Ministry of Defence is on the right track in acquiring newer technologies. Defence Minister Antony has put it right: There will be no major deal without transfer of technology.

But the process of acquiring technology involves costs, and diplomatic agreements making others part with technologies. For them, there is the lure of profits, particularly as India is a big market needing to replace most of its Soviet-vintage outdated equipment.

That means that the Indian defence acquisition process has to be careful on the one hand and not a stumbling block on the other.

It’s a matter of finding the right balance.