DRDO set to acquire DO-228 as the new Flight Test Bed | HAL set to roll out modified Dornier

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is all set to acquire a new flight test bed (FTB) in the form of a modified and custom-made Dornier (DO-228) aircraft. The DRDO hopes to reduce the dependency on foreign agencies to carry out the tests, once the desi FTB is rolled out. The platform, being manufactured by Kanpur-based Transport Aircraft Division (TAD) of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), will likely to be with the DRDO by the first week of April. With all modifications, the FTB is expected to cost over Rs 100 crore. 

DRDO sources tell Express that many industries and government firms were on the hunt for a suitable platform to undertake standalone tests of critical components and systems. With the increase in indigenous aeronautical activities within the country, the initial plan was to go for a foreign aircraft and later equip it with Indian systems. "Embraer was one of the candidates we looked at. Generally the test and design data of an imported aircraft are not shared owing to the proprietary clause. We couldn't have flown our own FTB without knowing these details either. So the plane to import was shelved and DO-228 was the automatic choice. HAL's TAD Kanpur have all the expertise available with them in manufacturing the Dorniers," an official said. 

With the arrival of a new FTB, DRDO hopes that the development time for various projects will come down. "The FTB will come handy for all airborne system evaluations. We hope to test all systems of Tejas, unmanned air vehicles on the FTB. In addition, radars, antennas, radio altimeters, data links and ATOL systems (automatic take-off and landing) will now take the FTB route. So far some limited Indian radars were tested with Israeli help," the official said. DRDO has put two consoles on the yet-to-be-named FTB, with the potential for adding two more. 

The new FTB is expected to serve the needs to DRDO for the next 20 years. Currently, the Centre for Airborne Systems, DRDO lab, operates an Avro for limited tests. The new FTB will be on the rolls of Electronics & Radar Development Establishment, another DRDO lab, and it will be flown by the Test Pilots from Aircraft Systems Testing Establishment of the Indian Air Force.
Copyright@The New Indian Express

Society under scanner! Retired radar rajas rev up their spirits for a rare cause

The core members of the 'Forum for former LRDEians' during a recent reunion.
By Anantha Krishnan M
Express News Service

Bangalore: Radars built by them have been virtually scanning the skies for 50 years, effectively tracking the good, the bad and the unwanted flying objects. Their radars Indra and Rajendra have stood ground doing the duties in 2D and 3D modes for the Indian armed forces for a long time. Now, retired scientists and employees of the Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) –  a Defence Research and Development Organisation lab making radars and associated technologies --  are panning their hearts from skies to society. Their mission: Give it back to society, what ever it takes.

Called the 'Forum for former LRDEians,'  the three-year-old silent movement is all set to  get propelled with the likely formation of a Foundation embedding scientific temper and societal sensibility. Started with six people in 2009, the movement has now grown in strength with over 250 former scientists, engineers, technical staff and administration officers signing up officially.

A K Sugunan, secretary and the brainchild of forum told Express that the regrouping of LRDE employees after retirement, is steadily showing signs of progress. “To all of us, it's an inspiring move in our life. Though we are all aged, we don't want to fade away just like that. While we might have taken care of ourselves ensuring a safe retired life, there are many out in the society not sure of what the next morning would look like. We want to touch their lives,” says Sugunan, a retired technical officer from LRDE.

Eradication of child labour is one area that will fall under the scanner of these retired, yet raring radar men.  “We are going step by step. To start with, we are focusing on limited areas in Bangalore, where children are employed as labourers. We might have entered the last leg of our visit to Earth, but then we want to go back as spirited souls who gave something back to the society,” says 72-year-old P N H S Mani, forum's advisor and former senior scientist with LRDE.

Once the forum transforms into a Foundation, then these scientific souls in their sunset also plan to don the role of mentors. “We have a huge knowledge bank available with us and we are keen that the public benefit from it. Be it getting into DRDO or any other defence establishment, we will counsel the students on the road ahead,” says M C Padakannaya, former senior scientist with LRDE and forum president.

As a pilot project, the forum has brought a Corporation School in Bangalore's Suddaguntapalaya under their radar and has already provided books to the library, in addition to donating storage facilities. “So far, so good. With more awareness, we are confident of helping more people,” says Sugunan, from whose house the mission control room for the forum's dream project operates. (For more info email: aksugunan@gmail.com)

(Copyright@The New Indan Express)