DRDO was formed in 1958 from the amalgamation of the then working Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) of the Indian Army and the Directorate of Technical Development and Production (DTDP) with the Defense Science Organization (DSO). DRDO was then a small organization with 10 establishments or laboratories. Over the years, it has grown multi-directionally in terms of the subject disciplines, number of laboratories, achievements and stature.

Today, DRDO is a network of more than 50 laboratories which are deeply engaged in developing defence technologies covering various disciplines, like aeronautics, armaments, electronics, combat vehicles, engineering systems, instrumentation, missiles, advanced computing and simulation, special materials, naval systems , life sciences, training, information systems and agriculture Presently, the organization is backed by over 5000 scientists and about 25,000 other scientific, technical and support personnel. Several major projects for the development of missiles, armaments, light combat aircrafts, radars, electronic warfare systems etc are on hand and significant achievements have already been made in many such technologies.