2,000 Akash missiles for Army; good times for DRDO, BDL

By Anantha Krishnan M. | Aviation Week | March 25 | Bangalore | India |

India’s Cabinet Committee on Security has cleared the indigenous Akash Missile System (AMS) for service with the Indian army, which plans an initial order worth $3.1 billion.

Dr. Prahlada, chief controller for Aeronautics & Services Interaction at the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), tells Aviation Week that the initial Army order will be for two regiments — approximately 2,000 missiles.

“The order also includes ground systems, radars and launchers,” Prahlada says. Hyderabad-based Bharat Dynamics Ltd. [BDL] will be the principal integrator. The company is expected to make 500 missiles per year, and the first batch will roll out by September 2012.

The order for homegrown missiles is “like having home-made food,” Prahlada says. “It will be reliable, cost-effective and fresh. It will be to your taste, readily available with no hassles. There won’t be issues with spares and contracts. We are sure this order [will] augur well for DRDO.”

The Indian military’s combined orders of AMS, including two radars, have a total worth of Rs 23,300 crore ($5.18 billion). The Akash missile systems consist of a launcher, a missile with a 25-30-km (16-19-mi.) range, control center, multifunction fire control radar and supporting ground equipment.

Meanwhile, BDL issued a press release to Hyderabad media on March 25, confirimg the Army order. The release says that the contract is the highest value placed by the Indian Army to date.

Full report in:

Chandipur to Chitradurga! DRDO's new test range in Karnataka on track; 2nd facility after ITR near Balasore

| By Anantha Krishnan M. | AVIATION WEEK |

Bangalore |  India | September 15, 2010 |

A new test range for India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is being built in the Chitradurga district of Karnataka state.

Dr. Prahlada, chief of DRDO, tells AVIATION WEEK that a new facility also will be constructed in Hyderabad for DRDO to flight-test aircraft.

The Chitradurga facility will focus on flight tests of unmanned aerial vehicles, air-to-ground weapons, parachutes and electronic warfare systems.

“We are going for the best of systems and facilities, and in the coming years DRDO will have multiple facilities for the testing of its wide range of platforms,” Prahlada said at the Bangalore Defense and Aerospace Journalists’ Forum.

The new Chitradurga test range will cover 4,000 acres and will have a runway. DRDO already has acquired the land.

  

For the full story, please visit

the Aviation Week link below:

www.aviationweek.com/india

Cheers DRDO! Army test-fires Nag missile successfully to check its short-range capabilities in Hyderabad; missile hits the 500-meter target in 3 seconds

The test-firing of Nag missile in Hyderabad. Photo: DRDO

India on May 6, 2010 successfully test-fired the anti-tank guided missile Nag at Indian Armi's firing range in Shamirpet, near Hyderabad. Dr Prahlada, Chief Controller R&D (Aeronautical & Services Interaction), DRDO, told TARMAK007 & AVIATION WEEK that the tests were conducted as part of a user requirement. "The Army wanted the capabilities of the missile to be tested while engaging a short-range target. We have successfully completed this user requirement. The missile hit the target within three seconds after its launch from a Nag missile carrier," Dr Prahlada said. The full range of  the missile is 4 km and Sunday's tests  were done for a target as close as 450-500 meters. The missile's crucial final trials are scheduled within the next 2 months, which will pave its way for induction.

(Comprehensive report in Aviation Week, tonite)

AVIATION WEEK ITL Interview Series: Accountability will make DRDO vibrant, says Dr Prahlada

THE MAN, THE MISSION: DRDO's top scientist Dr Prahlada is a man of few words and more action. Photo: t-arch-2010
By Anantha Krishnan M. | Aviation Week

Bangalore, India | June 04, 2010

India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is in a rejuvenation mode, following the Ministry of Defense (MoD) in giving itself a much-needed facelift. When reforms are implemented, they promise to make DRDO a vibrant organization. With missile expert Dr. V.K. Saraswat at the helm, DRDO has executed many visible actions so far this year. Amidst the makeovers and intense media scrutiny, Dr. Prahlada, Chief Controller R&D (Aeronautical & Services Interaction), DRDO, has been working hard to ensure that DRDO becomes resourceful and dynamic. AVIATION WEEK caught up with Dr. Prahlada to get a feel for the DRDO of tomorrow as part of its India Thought Leaders (ITL) series.

AW: You are among the few who have seen DRDO for close to 40 years. Do you think the ongoing reforms will make the DRDO any better?

P: Yes it will. I am confident. We need to perform and deliver on time. Quality is the key along with perfection and technological competence. Accountability and responsibility becomes more vital in the new scheme of things. Not that these weren’t there. Just that we needed some course corrections. We will give our scientists more freedom to innovate, more freedom to research. Newer ideas and out-of-the-box-solutions will become [the] order of the day. The new school of thought balances between current and future programs.

To access the full interview, please visit the link below

http://www.aviationweek.com/india