Agni-IV flight-test successful

DRDO developed, 4000 kms range Nuclear Capable Ballistic Missile AGNI-IV, was successfully flight tested from Wheeler’s Island around 1135hrs on 19 Sep 2012. This long range missile propelled by composite rocket motor technology, was tested for its full capability. The AGNI-IV missile launched from the road mobile launcher, reached the pre-defined target in about 20 minutes. The missile equipped with state of the art Avionics, 5th generation On Board Computer and with distributed architecture has the latest features to correct and guide for inflight disturbances. The most accurate Ring Laser Gyro based Inertial Navigation System (RINS) and supported by highly reliable redundant Micro Navigation System (MINGS), ensured the vehicle reach the target within two digit accuracy. The re-entry heat shield withstood temperatures of more than 3000 degree centigrade and made sure the avionics function normally with inside temperature less than 50 degree centigrade. 

All Electro-Optical Tracking systems (EOTS), Radars located all along the coast have tracked and monitored all the parameters throughout the flight. Two ships located near the target point tracked the vehicle and witnessed the final event. 

Vijay Kumar Saraswat, DG DRDO, Avinash Chander, Programme Director AGNI, DS & CC R&D (MSS) reviewed the total launch activities and guided the team. Tessy Thomas, Project Director AGNI-IV led the team of scientists during the operation. 

S.K. Chaudhuri, Director RCI, A.K. Chakrabarti, Director DRDL,  V.G. Sekaran, Director ASL and MVKV Prasad, Director ITR witnessed the launch. (Press Release issued on 19 Sept 2012)

Tears & Triumphs: Tessy’s Agni-IV team drew inspiration from failure | PM's pat on X'Mas eve

Tessy Thomas (centre), Agni-IV Project Director, leads her team at the high-security Advanced Systems Laboratory in Hyderabad. Photo: Tarmak007

Tessy Thomas

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore/Hyderabad: Behind every successful missile, there’s a woman. And, behind every successful woman, there are men, boys, girls and many more! Welcome to Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL) – one of the most sensitive wings of Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO). Nobody talks much about it and not even listed in DRDO’s official website! Thanks to the recent success of Agni-IV, the longest missile India tested successfully so far (range in excess of 3500 km), the spotlight has stuck on ASL. 

In a ‘cleared interaction’ with Express at one of ASL’s high security tech-thatched rooms, Tessy Thomas, Project Director, A-IV summoned her faithful troops. India’s first woman scientist to head a missile programme -- now popularly known as Agniputhri – began the session by introducing her team. “My core team consists of around 60 scientists with an average age of 30. The last one year was probably the toughest in my life. Missile scientists are shunned by everyone the moment something goes wrong. Tell me one thing in this world that has got 100 per cent success in the first attempt. We learn from our mistakes. We learn from our failures. We don’t give up,” said Tessy, the leader, the teacher and the philosopher. 

There are two names she swears by: Missile Man A P J Abdul Kalam and Avinash Chander, the soft-spoken Chief Controller, R&D (Missiles and Strategic Systems) of DRDO. “We look to both for inspiration. There are many others who reposed faith in us. Sharmaji, why don’t you speak,” she said looking at S.K. Sharma, Electrical Integration Group of Agni-IV. 

Sharma said that last year’s failure did dent the morale of the team. “The spirits go down for a while. Everyone gets hit. Everyone is questioned. Every system is checked. Even if a missile fails, as you all (media) always love to write, there are many positives we derive. There will be many new critical systems that would have executed its missions for the first time,” he said. Before the recent successful launch of A-IV, Team ASL scanned the project threadbare and is said to have re-visited the ways they worked, getting down to the basics. When asked how it feels to take the orders from a woman, Sharma said: “Madam is very tough!” 

It was evident that Tessy’s team devised many means to stay focused. “Mistakes are pardonable. Openness in accepting them is a great art. The fear factor is removed and we look into the failure analysis carefully. The minute observations of the team are recorded and we narrow down the failure chances mentally to 0.1 per cent,” says C H V Ram Mohan, Deputy Project Director and Vehicle Director, A-IV. 

Brain-storming night-out sessions, tech augmentation coupled with arguments, emotions and sometimes touchdown of tears – all have played key roles -- away from the launch pad. “We draw inspiration from our failure,” says Reshma, a young Scientist (C) with A-IV programme. 

Tears & triumphs! 

|To be continued | Copyright@The New Indian Express |

(CRACKING INDIA'S MISSILE CODE is an exclusive series currently on in The New Indian Express. In the days ahead, you will get to read a mix of news-breaks and tech-upgrades on current and futuristic missile programs of India, in addition to some human-interest pieces. Email your thoughts on this long-range series to anantha.ak@gmail.com and point out factual errors, if any, that might have crept in despite my best efforts.)

PART-XI

Mom ‘n’ Missiles: Agniputhri keeps her word with A-IV launch | Tessy says it's her birthday gift to mother

THE RIGHT CALL: Tessy Thomas, Agni-IV, Project Director, at the launch site in Wheeler Island. This photo was taken on December 9, 2010, a day before the missile's (then called as A2 Prime) failed mission. 

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: Her big-ticket nuke-toy Agni-IV hit the target bang in 20 minutes after cruising over 3,000 km from the launch pad in Wheeler Island on Tuesday, November 15. Inside the Block Office (a special concrete shelter that can withstand a nuclear explosion or the impact if a missile misfires and falls over it) 48-year-old Tessy Thomas, Project Director, Agni-IV, was closely tracking her surface-to-surface pet, obediently following the trajectory as per the text book plans. Moments later, India’s first woman scientist to head a sensitive missile project broke down with joy. Very few knew that she had finally kept her word given to her mother Kunjamma Thomas, a qualified teacher, who lives alone in Allapuzaha (Kerala).

“It was a beautiful launch. My colleagues lifted me and it was a very emotional moment in my life. I called my mother immediately. It is my birthday gift and she turns 75 next month,” Tessy told The New Indian Express. Last year, the maiden launch of Agni-IV (then called as A-II Prime) clashed with her mother’s birthday. “I had promised that it would be my birthday gift to her. Unfortunately, the connector snapped just seconds after the lift-off and the mission failed,” Tessy told this correspondent, who too witnessed the launch from Wheeler Island, then.

Since the failure last year, Tessy and her team had gone through an hectic schedule ensuring that everything, including the missile, fell in place. “It’s an exciting feeling now. I owe it to my mother and my colleagues who believed in me. Everyone writes us off, the moment something goes wrong,” says Tessy, who works with Defence Research and Development Organization’s (DRDO) Hyderabad-based Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL).

On Tuesday, she was at the launch site till 2 am and was back at the site by 4 am. “My mother told me that there’s always a second chance and I really prayed hard. The success is the result of team work and there are hundreds who worked for the project,” she said.

DRDO chief Dr V K Saraswat says that Tessy is a simple soul, but a go-getter. “Her dedication inspires all of us. She is a role model for youngsters in DRDO. Her commitment is matchless and India needs more Tessys,” he says. Echoing his sentiments was Avinash Chander,  Chief Controller (Missiles and Strategic Systems), DRDO. “I am lucky to have such a pupil. She treats me as her guru and her zero-attitude has definitely done wonders,” says Avinash.

So how's the Agniputhri celebrating the success of Agni-IV? “Life continues as usual. I will be with my mother for her birthday,” says Tessy.

(A similar version of the above report appeared in today's The New Indian Express.)
Also recommended to read: Agni 2 Prime failed, but nobody died! 

Breaking on Tarmak007: India set to unveil Agni-II Prime; Tessy's proud baby hits the launchpad

AGNI & THE PUTRI: The Agni-II launch in May 2010 (Pic 1). Its improved variant A2 Prime's scheduled launch in December will be a significant moment for Project Director Tessy Thomas (Pic 2) -- India's first woman scientist to head a critical missile project. Hectic activities are currently on at Wheeler Island for the launch. @T-Arch

| By Anantha Krishnan M. | AVIATION WEEK |

Bangalore |  India | November 28, 2010 |

India is preparing for the first launch of an upgraded version of the Agni-II missile. Known as the Agni-II Plus, Agni-II Prime or A2, this nuclear-capable missile is developed by India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
This surface-to-surface missile can hit targets at ranges between 2,500 km and 3,000 km and is seen as a new warhead that would bridge the gap between Agni-II and Agni-III missiles, which have ranges of 2,500 km and 3,500 km, respectively.
Sources tell Aviation Week that the Agni-II Prime will be an improved platform in terms of accuracy, distance and strength. With the stage set for the A2 launch, all eyes are on Tessy Thomas, A2 Project Director (PD) for the DRDO.

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