# Defence Research and Development Laboratory

> laboratory

**Wikidata**: [Q5251245](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5251245)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defence_Research_and_Development_Laboratory)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/defence-research-and-development-laboratory

## Summary
The Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) is a research institute located in Hyderabad, India, that operates under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Established in 1961, the laboratory serves as a dedicated engine of discovery with a specific focus on missile technology. As an operational entity conducting hands-on investigation, it functions purely to generate new knowledge and technical solutions within India's defence sector.

## Key Facts
- **Inception:** Founded in 1961
- **Location:** Hyderabad, India (also serves as headquarters)
- **Parent Organization:** Defence Research and Development Organisation
- **Primary Field of Work:** Missile technology
- **Classification:** Research institute / Laboratory
- **Acronyms/Aliases:** DRDL
- **Global Presence:** Wikipedia entries in English and French
- **Identifiers:**
  - ISNI: 0000000099640219
  - ROR ID: 01teejf37
  - GRID ID: grid.461919.2
  - VIAF ID: 147984736
  - Ringgold ID: 126228
  - Library of Congress Authority ID: n2009211234
  - Freebase ID: /m/0jwwd98
  - Microsoft Academic ID (discontinued): 2800689258

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary purpose of the Defence Research and Development Laboratory?
A: DRDL is a research institute dedicated to conducting research and generating new knowledge. Its specific field of work is the development of missile technology.

### Q: When and where was the laboratory established?
A: The laboratory was founded in 1961 and is headquartered in Hyderabad, India.

### Q: How is DRDL related to other organizations?
A: It is a subsidiary laboratory operating under the central administration of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). As a research institute, it is distinct from universities or corporate R&D departments, focusing purely on systematic investigation rather than teaching or commercial products.

## Why It Matters
The Defence Research and Development Laboratory matters as a critical piece of infrastructure dedicated to advancing India's defence capabilities. By existing as a specialized research institute rather than a degree-granting university, DRDL concentrates resources and talent purely on the investigation and development of missile systems, free from the distractions of teaching obligations. This organizational structure allows for long-term, high-risk research essential to national security. In the landscape of knowledge-producing institutions, DRDL serves as a dedicated engine of discovery, translating fundamental scientific inquiry into tangible technological solutions for complex defence challenges.

## Notable For
- **Specialized Research Focus:** Dedicated exclusively to the field of missile technology, distinguishing it from general science laboratories.
- **Organizational Purity:** Operates as a distinct research institute, a structure that separates it from think tanks (which focus on policy) and universities (which focus on education).
- **Established History:** Has been operational since 1961, representing decades of sustained research activity.
- **Global Recognition:** Cataloged in major international authority files including the Library of Congress and the German National Library (via the GND system referenced in its class definition).

## Body

### Organizational Classification
The Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) is formally classified as a **research institute** and **laboratory**. This classification places it within a category of organizations that exist specifically to conduct research, distinct from scientific societies or think tanks. While think tanks conduct policy-oriented research, DRDL focuses on fundamental inquiry and technical development in its specialized field. It is an operational entity conducting hands-on investigation rather than a membership-based organization.

### Location and Headquarters
DRDL is geographically situated in **Hyderabad, India**. This city serves as both its location and its official headquarters. The laboratory is integrated into the local and national scientific infrastructure, identified by geographic databases and library cataloging systems.

### Historical Context
The laboratory was established with an inception date of **1961**. This places DRDL among the long-standing research organizations in the region, predating many modern digital research identifiers yet maintaining active records across contemporary databases.

### Governance and Structure
DRDL functions as a laboratory under the **Defence Research and Development Organisation** (DRDO), which acts as its parent organization. This hierarchy situates the laboratory within the broader national framework of defence science and technology.

### Field of Work
The primary field of work for DRDL is **missile** technology. This specialization indicates a focus on the systematic investigation and development of advanced projectile systems, aligning with the laboratory's classification as a generator of new knowledge in a high-technology sector.

### Digital and Web Presence
The laboratory maintains an official online presence through the Defence Research and Development Organisation's web infrastructure.
- **Primary Website:** `https://www.drdo.gov.in/labs-and-establishments/defence-research-development-laboratory-drdl` (English)
- **Historical/Alternate Page:** `http://www.drdo.gov.in/drdo/labs/DRDL/English/index.jsp?pg=homebody.jsp` (English)

The laboratory is also documented on Wikipedia, with articles available in **English and French**, and is referenced on Wikidata.

### Authority Control and Identifiers
DRDL is tracked across numerous global databases and library systems, reflecting its standing as a significant research entity. These identifiers ensure unambiguous disambiguation of the laboratory in academic and scientific literature:
- **GRID (Global Research Identifier Database):** grid.461919.2
- **ROR (Research Organization Registry):** 01teejf37
- **ISNI (International Standard Name Identifier):** 0000000099640219
- **VIAF (Virtual International Authority File):** 147984736
- **Ringgold ID:** 126228
- **Library of Congress Authority ID:** n2009211234
- **Freebase ID:** /m/0jwwd98
- **Microsoft Academic ID:** 2800689258 (Note: This database is discontinued).

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-01-10
2. ROR release v1.19
3. GRID Release 2016-05-31
4. GRID Release 2016-12-06
5. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
6. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph