The Center selects 7 domestic startups to develop next-generation technology for the aviation and defense sector

New Delhi: The government on Thursday awarded seven new projects to startups under the Technology Development Fund program for various needs of the Armed Forces and the aerospace and space industry. Defense sectors.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said the initiative aims to support micro, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and startups in the defence and aviation sectors.

“The development of domestic technologies will strengthen the military-industrial ecosystem,” it added.

One such project aims to develop an indigenous set of tools for simulation training of pilots in realistic scenarios to aid in full mission planning and large force engagement. The project has been awarded to Noida-based startup Oxygen 2 Innovation.

Another project involves an underwater unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). It involves versatile naval battlefield accessories that can be deployed in multiple combat roles.

“The objective is Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA). The project has been awarded to Sagar Defence Engineering Pvt Ltd, Pune,” said the DRDO, which comes under the Ministry of Defence.

The project, titled “Long-Range Remotely Operated Vehicles for Detection and Neutralization,” aims to build dual-use systems that can detect, classify, locate, and neutralize underwater objects while keeping key assets away from the suspected operational area.

This project was awarded to IROV Technologies Pvt Ltd, Kochi.

Another project, “Aircraft Ice Detection Sensor,” aims to develop a method for detecting ice in flight. Ice is created when supercooled water droplets freeze upon impact with the aircraft’s exterior surfaces. The aircraft uses this to trigger the anti-icing mechanism.

“The contract has been awarded to Craftlogic Labs Pvt Ltd, Bengaluru,” the DRDO said.

The “Radar Signal Processor with Active Antenna Simulator” will enable the deployment of multiple target systems to test and evaluate multiple short-range airborne weapons systems.

“It serves as a basic building block for larger radar systems. The design has been approved by Data Pattern (India) Limited, Chennai,” according to the government.

The project “Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System-based Timing Acquisition & Dissemination System” has been approved by Accord Software & Systems, Bengaluru.

The aim of the project is to enable the customization of the time data collection and dissemination system, to use the Indian Constellation for time data collection and to develop a customized and flexible time measurement system in accordance with the coverage requirements.

Coimbatore-based startup Alohatech has been tasked with a project to develop processes for manufacturing conductive yarns and fabrics using graphene nanomaterials and conductive inks.

According to DRDO, the result will be advanced e-textiles, using their advantages in practical clothing applications.