Milli-metric wave (mmW) seeker flight-tested onboard Nag missile successfully

A file photo of Nag Missile being test-fired. Photo: Special Arrangement

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore:  India on Sunday successfully flight-tested a milli-metric wave (mmW), all-weather capability seeker, onboard Nag -- an anti-tank, fire-and-forget missile. The test was held at the Army’s small arms firing ranges in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. The seeker was tested for a specific range of 2 km, while the Nag missile has the capabilities (proven) to hit targets up to 4 km.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chief V K Saraswat confirmed to Express that it was for the first time that a home-grown missile was used as a carrier vehicle to prove the capabilities of a mmW seeker successfully. “It is a very significant achievement and we will now work towards increasing the range of the seeker. It’s a path-breaking work being undertaken by Research Centre Imarat (RCI),” Sarswat said.

(A seeker, in a missile is miniature a radar, mounted on the nose of the missile with which it detects the presence of the target, acquires it and tracks the target against which the missile has been fired. It also helps the missile generate necessary commands so that missile is guided towards the target in order to destroy it.)

Sunday’s test had for the first time a radio frequency (RF) seeker sitting pretty on an anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) Nag with ‘specific mission parameters.’ “The objective was to determine the capability of the seeker to track the target right from the point of the missile being fired up to reaching the target. Next step is to perfect the guided systems with the precision to hit tanks,” S S Mishra, Project Director, Nag, Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad, told Express from Pune. “The seeker has proven its worth in the lock-on-before-launch mode and now we will focus on the lock-on-after-launch mode,” Mishra added.

DRDO in the past had failed to succeed in designing mmW seeker(s) in the 3.5 km-plus range and the just-concluded test would probably give the scientists enough confidence to develop one for higher ranges. In addition, the Imaging Infra Red (IIR) seekers doesn’t work in adverse weather (fog, dust, smoke etc) conditions, hence the all-weather capabilities of RF mmW seekers come to the fore.

Interestingly, Missile Man Dr A P J Abdul Kalam mentions in detail the significance of developing mmW antenna for the Nag seeker head in his autobiography Wings of Fire. He had emphasised how India must overcome technological foreign dependence in creating these components.

                              (Copyright@The New Indian Express)

Winds of change? DRDO wakes up from slumber; calls young troops to Hyderabad for an inspiring event

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Hyderabad: Milking the reverse brain-drain syndrome and pushing the out-of-the-box-philosophies being propagated to keep the fresh blood in sterile condition, the think-tank of India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is organising a three-day Young Scientists' Meet (YSM) in the land of nawabs and kebabs – Hyderabad. This first-of-its-kind-event will be held from December 18-20 at Ramoji Film City and at Research Centre Imarat (RCI), a DRDO facility.

It's hard to believe that DRDO has finally woken up from slumber and decided to brand its employees -- especially youngsters – with a feel-good get-together filled with  freedom of expression. With the motto 'Together We Grow,' the YSM will give DRDO top-brass a rare insight into the minds of its younger troops. “You can't ignore them and they are DRDO's saviors. They hold the baton to the future and YSM is just the beginning of a series of new initiatives we are lining up,” DRDO chief Dr V K Saraswat tells The New Indian Express.

So what will the young guns do at the backyard of Charminar? Well, for a change they will talk and their bosses will listen. They will chart out a trajectory for DRDO studded with new hopes and horizons. They will speak fearlessly. They will pick up the threads of sharing, bonding and self-belief. They will probably scream in unison: Yes, We can!

An idea mooted by the Human Resources Department at DRDO HQ in Delhi will finally take wing when close to 250 young scientists from various disciplines and from 52 labs will flock together sinking their designations, but soldering their desires. “We are confident that the event will be a smashing hit as we have never done something like this before. Scientists in the B,C and D levels will make use of this opportunity to display their inner might,” says S.K. Ray, Director, RCI.

DRDO ran a contest for YSM's logo and it caught-up with the imagination of scientists nation-wide. “We will be forming different teams and each team will be provided with an idea on which they will have to interact within themselves and start making a report which will have to be presented on the last day of the event. We are also looking at improving their communication skills, co-ordination and adaptability,” says G Krishna Rao, Director, Planning and Production, RCI.

Currently, Team YSM is scrutinising innovative ideas, out of which six will be given a 10-minute slot to make presentations, while the rest will go into the poster segment. “Observers will note the ideas which can be of used for DRDO's futuristic development. We are also making our chief controllers available for the youngsters during YSM,” Rao said.

Missile Man Dr A P J Abdul Kalam will officially release the YSM logo during his visit to RCI on December 9. “The YSM has drawn tonnes of inspiration from Dr Kalam. His thoughts and ideas are leading lights to all of us and we are delighted to implement his vision during YSM,” says Anil Kumar Meena, a young RCI scientist from Rajasthan.

(Copyright@The New Indian Express)

YES WE CAN: Saraswat dedicates Agni-IV success to youngsters in DRDO

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is on Cloud 9 following the success of the long-range, surface-to-surface missile Agni-IV on November 16. Often battered and bruised by the users for not delivering what has been promised, the DRDO is hogging all the limelight – thanks to the big-bang strike by Agni-IV.

Known for his inimitable straight-forward comments, DRDO chief Dr V K Saraswat dedicated the success of the launch to the young DRDO.  “I dedicate this success to all the youngsters who have contributed with a large heart. I am not playing to the gallery as I have already communicated this internally. The mentoring we started a couple of years back is paying rich dividends. Give it to them (youngsters) as they deserve all the laurels,” Saraswat told The New Indian Express.

Making mincemeat of technology control regimes, Saraswat said that Agni-IV virtually made these  powers futile at one go. “Nobody can stop us and nobody can dictate terms to us. Nobody can get us. It is not DRDO we are talking about, but India. We have shown the world how indigenous new-age technologies can be transferred efficiently on to a top-class product,” he said.

The DRDO chief went on to say that the missile technology nuances mastered by his team has put India on par with the best in the world. “We will soon tell another story when Agni-V comes out. It's a constant process and we are all geared up. We have got the momentum and we will get it going,” Saraswat said.

The mood in the Missile Complex in Hyderabad too is ecstatic with a strong sense of 'yes-we-can-belief' settling in among various teams that have been working on Agni-IV.

Speaking to Express from Hyderabad over phone, G. Satheesh Reddy, Associate Director, Research Centre Imarat (RCI),  said that DRDO's patience have finally paid off. “After last year's failed campaign, we got on to the basics and dissected every system that went onboard. Today, with the success of Agni-IV we have witnessed the quantum jump in the state-of-the-art technologies in missile-making. We are now steadily moving towards our inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) dream and all efforts will now go into making of Agni-V,” says Sateesh, a young DRDO brain, who got recently elevated to the 'Outstanding Scientist' status.

It was Satheesh's team that developed ring-laser gyro-based inertial navigation system (RINS) and micro-navigation system (MINGS) for Agni-IV. “We are thrilled by the telemetry results of the missile and we couldn't have asked for a better launch,” he said.

DRDO sources who were part of the Agni-IV campaign said that the missile could go up to a maximum of 3,700 km and during the maiden launch it touched between 3,200-3,400 km, before hitting with target.

Copyright@The New Indian Express
(Tarmak007 welcomes Niranjan onboard, blog's 450th registered member.) 

HOMECOMING: DRDO 2.0 triggers reverse brain drain; tech challenges key reason, claims Saraswat

By Anantha Krishnan M

Bangalore: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is hit by a strange phenomenon. Often in the news for delayed and derailed projects, the DRDO top brass are now on Cloud 9, with hundreds of non-resident Indian (NRI) scientists making a beeline to be part of India’s gen-next defence projects. Confirming this reverse brain drain trend to Express, DRDO chief V K Saraswat said requests are pouring in from NRIs from the US, Canada and UK. Last year, we hired 40 NRIs and 400-plus are waiting to get in.

DRDO is also in the process of recruiting 2,000 more scientists and hopes to get the nod by the beginning of the 12th Plan. DRDO needs mighty brains to work on its big-ticket missile projects, including the Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MR-SAM), and the Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile (SR-SAM). The MR-SAM project is worth around `10,000 crore, while the SR-SAM sits on a whopping 30,000 crore.

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Prahaar is a gift from DRDO’s 3rd generation scientists: Saraswat

DRDO chief Saraswat had a crucial review meeting (in South India) over a sensitive project on Monday. His team members were ready with a PPT containing the project update. To their surprise, he cancelled the meeting at the last moment and headed straight away to Balasore. The reason: “It was important for me to be with my team,” he said.

Shortly after Thursday’s maiden launch of Prahaar, an elated Saraswat spoke to Tarmak007. “Prahaar is state-of-the-art in terms of missile technology. It has a great potential to be used by the Indian Army as a battlefield support tactical missile. It can engage different targets at a time,” Sarsawat said.

When asked about DRDO’s decision to go-ahead with the Prahaar project without government sanction, Saraswat said: “It is our own technology development project and we did it in record time. The Army is extremely happy with today’s result. We are confident that the sanctions will follow soon. This is the DRDO I have been wanting for a long time. Your performance must speak always,” Saraswat said.

“It was such a delight watching this launch. It was really great and I am not exaggerating. We will have some more tests coming up, considering this was a maiden demonstration for the user,” the DRDO chief said.

The DRDO chief, who always prefers to reach the launch site in Balasore on a speed-boat, leaving the comforts of a VIP vessel, said that the whole missile was developed by scientists, below 35 years of age. “Be it the controls, navigation, propulsion, guidance, system engineering or structures – it is DRDO’s 3^rd generation scientists who developed Prahaar. I am delighted to say that it is their gift to India,” Saraswat said. 

A snapshot from DRDO Directors' meet

DRDO chief  Dr V.K.Saraswat hands over a model of Tejas to Defense Minister A.K. Antony  at the 35^th DRDO Directors’ Conference in New Delhi on March 25. Antony asked DRDO to focus on strong HR practices.  Photo MoD

Tarmak007 updates: News you might have missed!

Owing to the ongoing Justice for Jetly campaign, Tarmak007 wasn't hosting stories from Aviation Week Microsites. Here are the links to the reports that went live recently. Click on the image to read the full report.

1. The Indian Defense Research and Development Organization’s (DRDO) plan to set up a Defense Technology Commission (DTC) is inching closer to reality. DRDO chief V.K. Saraswat said on Jan. 28 that the DTC — formed along the lines of India’s Space Commission and Atomic Energy Commission — would enable more self-reliance among DRDO labs through better funding and decentralization. “After a lot of deliberations within the ministry of defense, I can confirm that the DTC is moving in the right direction,” Saraswat says. “Now it is awaiting the Indian government’s nod.”

2. India’s Embraer-built Airborne Early Warning & Control System (AEW&C) is scheduled for rollout Feb. 21 in Brazil. A senior defense official confirmed to Aviation Week Jan. 27 that the first flight of the modified EMB-145 is expected around May. “The first EMB-145 will land in India in August 2011 for system integration and subsequent induction into the Indian Air Force (IAF),” the official says. “The AEW&C with the systems integrated by CABS will fly in India in early 2012,” the official says. “CABS have already begun the integration on ground-based systems [according to the] exact specifications [of] the EMB-145, including the seating arrangements.”

3. India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is developing a range of protective clothing that includes jackets, vests, shoe insoles and heated gloves for pilots. “Though the majority of our soldiers and pilots are acclimatized to hostile terrains in the frontier areas and battle zones, it is pivotal to protect them from head to foot,” says a senior scientist with DRDO’s Bengaluru-based Defense Bio-Engineering and Electro-medical Laboratory (Debel). “In some cases the soldiers will be under severe physiological stress, which can limit their performance in combat missions,” the scientist says. “The normal physiological responses to cold weather are shivering and diversion of blood away from the extremities leading the surface skin to sink inward. Frostbite and hypothermia are also common while operating at high-altitude regions of Leh, Ladakh, Kargil, Dras, Mushkoh, Batalik, Chorbatla and Siachen.”

4. The Karnataka government in India has cleared a proposal submitted by Mahindra Aerospace to set up an aerospace component manufacturing unit in Kolar, near Bengaluru, with an initial investment of Rs 284 crore ($63 million). The government also cleared information technology giant Wipro’s proposal to set up an aerospace facility near Bengaluru’s new airport in Devanahalli, with an investment of Rs 52 crore ($11.6 million).

5. Dr Kota Harinarayana, former director of the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft program is recommending India focus its energies on cutting costs and development times in its future aircraft programs. “Today the aviation market has shifted from North America and Europe to Asia and in particular India, so what we need is [to manufacture aircraft that are] cost effective with the best operational capabilities,” said Kota during his keynote address at the India Defense and Aerospace Symposium 2011 in Bengaluru Jan. 25.

6. India’s national carrier Air India extended a series of fare concessions for para-military forces personnel, children and senior citizens on the eve of India’s Republic Day, Jan. 26. Air India says that the steps have been taken to make air travel affordable to more segments. As per the new guidelines announced on Jan. 25, the discount available to para-military personnel will now cover family members of Border Security Force, Indo Tibetan Border Police, Coast Guard, Central Industrial Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Assam Rifles, Railway Protection Force, Intelligence Bureau and the Sashastra Seema Bal. “Other than on apex fares, a discount of 50 percent on the basic fare component will be available on all fare levels in economy class for domestic sectors only,” an Air India spokesperson tells Aviation Week. Those from the Indian army, navy and air force already enjoy these benefits.

7. Bharat Electronic Limited (BEL) will showcase homegrown Network Centric Warfare (NCW) technologies during the upcoming Aero India 2011, to be held Feb. 9-13 at the Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru. I.V. Sarma, BEL’s research and development director, tells Aviation Week that NCW displays will include command and control systems; air space management; multi-sensor tracking; air defense simulation; battlefield management systems and coastal surveillance systems. BEL will also showcase new products and technologies including software-defined radio (SDR), the next-generation bulk encryptor and high data tactical radio. “The SDR will be on display for the first time,” Sarma says.

Tejas production method in HAL needs to be well-oiled; 100% indigenization in defense not possible: Saraswat

By Anantha Krishnan M. | Aviation Week | AW&ST |  Bangalore | India | January 11

(INDIA THOUGHT LEADERS INTERVIEW SERIES IS ANCHORED BY THE BLOGGER FOR AW)

India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is finally making progress with many homegrown projects. Often on the receiving end of time and cost overruns, DRDO has been kept on its toes by the Indian media, audit agencies, experts and the armed forces. Amidst all the brickbats and occasional bouquets, DRDO held firm, and slowly the products started gaining acceptance by India’s armed forces. India’s industries also came of age and showed increasing confidence in partnering with DRDO. At the helm of DRDO’s affairs is India’s leading missile scientist, Dr. V.K. Saraswat, who is also the scientific advisor to India’s defense minister. “I am for international collaboration and don’t believe in 100% indigenous development, which is not possible in the current scenario. I don’t believe in reinventing the wheel. Development has to be collaborative,” Saraswat tells Anantha Krishnan M., Aviation Week’s Senior Aerospace and Defense Correspondent (India), in a one-on-one interview for the India Thought Leaders (ITL) series. (Below is the gist of the interview.)
On DRDO’s bumpy ride: The last 20% completion phase of various projects needed more time and extra focus than what the initial 80% took and needed extra focus. This was the period, maybe for close to two decades until around 2005, [when] we found that the output was very fluctuating. This became a major sore point as the country and armed forces were concerned. The users thought we were not delivering. Hence, we decided to channelize all our energies toward the critical 20% of the phase in the last two years.

On LCA production: My assessment is that there should be much more effort from the production agencies to take the Tejas program forward. What is required for the production of Tejas, a lean manufacturing process should be in place. We must have good supply chain lines, good contractors (tier I, II) and state-of-the-art tooling systems. We should have excellent methods of contracting, monitoring, evaluating and integrating every work. While we have some of these in patches, HAL needs to consolidate all this into a great process. An efficient production method is yet to be put in place by HAL as far as LCA is concerned.

On the missile front: The focus of DRDO in the next five years will be to build a subsonic cruise missile for multi-platforms. The work has already begun. Now we are focussing on major building blocks for the missile, which means engines. We will begin work on loitering missiles. We are looking at launching multiple sub munitions from a low-cost rocket or a missile, which can be guided against each target.

New areas: The most neglected area is gun development, and we have already started work in this area. We want to develop even the engine in India for FMBT and have launched a national program involving private industries, academic institutions and DRDO.

On international collaboration: I am for collaborations. The whole idea is to accelerate our pace of development and avoid reinventing the wheel. I personally don’t believe in the 100% indigenous philosophy, which is the most impractical one. Today, if anyone wants complete homegrown products in critical areas, it is because of the lack of [understanding] of the dynamics of the market and a lack of understanding of what is global competitiveness.

On DRDO revamp: We are making good progress. We are implementing 20 to 30% of the Rama Rao Committee recommendations on DRDO’s makeover. The complete decision-taking process has been decentralized. Delivery will be the watchword for DRDO’s progress.

The full interview in: 

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100 per indigenous development not possible: Saraswat

Kaveri undergoes more flight trials in Russia

Kaveri's flight trial campaign is on at GFRI in Russia: Photo: Copyright@Tarmak007

| By Anantha Krishnan M. | AVIATION WEEK |

Bangalore |  India | November 23, 2010 |

India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Russia’s Gromov Flight Research Institute (GFRI) have conducted more flight trials of India’s Kaveri engine on a modified Flying Test Bed (FTB) IL-76 transport aircraft.

Mohan Rao, director of the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) in Bangalore, told Aviation Week that flight data analysis from the first flight on Nov. 3 was submitted to GFRI officials, who presented a detailed report to Russia’s Ministry of Industries.

“Based on this report, we got the clearances for further flights. We had the second flight after a week for more than an hour in very similar conditions to the first flight,” Mohan said. “The engine was inspected again and all flight parameters were analyzed. During the second flight, we went up to 5 km. at 0.6 Mach and 4 km. at 0.4 Mach. We need to study the engine data and combustion stability.”

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Science & spirituality: GTRE Director chants Gayatri Mantra during Kaveri's maiden flight at GFRI in Russia!

 Photo 1, 2 show the IL-76 with Kaveri during its take-off and landing on November 3, 2010. The remaining photos taken during Kaveri's flight trial campaign in Russia. The last 2 pics are at GTRE Bangalore. Photos: Copyright@Tarmak007 

Scientists are superstitious. Especially when the going gets tough, you need all the luck under the Sun to hit the Bulls Eye. This piece brings to you some dressing room stories, when DRDO’s Kaveri engine created history in Russia.
Kaveri fitted on to IL-76 – the modified Flying Test Bed (FTB) – had its successful maiden flight at Gromov Flight Research Institute (GFRI) on November 3, 2010. For over a decade or so, GTRE scientists faced a lot of criticism from the government agencies, Services, defense watchdogs, media and self-styled engine experts, for not delivering what was promised. 
The Kaveri engine thus became a joke and GRTE soon became a forgotten lab. And, India’s super-pride plane program – LCA – too moved ahead with a paradesi heart. “Yes, we had to face many challenges. While the world was laughing at us, we were putting that extra mile to make the engine fly. We admit the delays, but it’s unfair to forget our struggle and not to recognize our achievement,” says Mohan Rao, Director, GTRE. 
At the just-concluded Aviation Conclave 2010 in Hyderabad DRDO Chief Dr V.K. Saraswat said that DRDO branding will happen only with excellence. And, he ensured to pat Mohan and his boys at every opportunity he got during the conclave. While history was created, Mohan was tensed and was in the company of his colleagues waiting anxiously at GFRI. 
“This was the moment of my life. I prayed to God. I have done everything. My team has done. Now, the flight is about to take-off. I chanted the Gayatri Mantra. I was continuously chanting the mantra. I shouted… Take-off, take-off… The Russian friends screamed Athleshna (excellent),” Mohan Rao, said.
Many mails came to Tarmak007 asking why the DRDO failed to celebrate Kaveri’s maiden flight, the way it ought to have. A point there, considering what the DRDO and GTRE had to undergo over Kaveri.One definitely needs to salute the spirit of GTRE scientists, who toiled hard to make Kaveri fly. 
May be, the need of the hour is more Gayatri mantras for the road ahead!

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