DRDO Archives - Page 13 of 18

04 Oct

Austerity drive holds up hiring by DRDO

Bangalore : Hiring of about 350 scientists and engineers by the state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has been held up by the austerity measures of the union finance ministry, a senior official said. "Though the (350) posts have been cleared by the prime minister's office, recruitment has been put on hold due to cut in budgetary allocation for us this fiscal (2013-14) by the finance ministry," DRDO recruitment and assessment centre chairman D.N. Reddy told reporters on the margins of a conference here. Admitting that the research body has a shortage of 400 scientists and engineers, Reddy said fresh…

16 Sep

India test fires n-capable Agni-V missile

Bhubaneswar : India Sunday successfully test fired its longest-range Agni-V nuclear-capable missile for the second time in less than one and a half years, defence ministry sources said. It was fired from the Inner Wheeler Island, a launch site at Bhadrak, about 200 km from Bhubaneswar. The missile can hit targets deep inside China and Pakistan, the sources said. "The test was successful," spokesman R.K. Gupta for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) told IANS. The missile flew on a predefined path and reached its destination with expected precision. Powered by three stage solid rocket motors, the missile had a…

12 Aug

India test-fires n-capable Prithvi-II missile

Bhubaneswar : India Monday test-fired its nuclear-capable surface-to-surface Prithvi-II missile from a military base in Odisha, a senior defence official said. The indigenously-developed ballistic missile with a range of 350 km was fired from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur-on-sea in Balasore district, about 230 km from Bhubaneswar. The launch was carried out at 9.20 a.m. by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of the Indian armed forces, as part of a regular training exercise. "The missile reached the predefined target in the Bay of Bengal with a very high accuracy -- of few metres," test range director M.V.K.V. Prasad told IANS.…

08 Aug

DRDO lab makes chilli spray for self-defence

New Delhi : A defence research laboratory has developed an eco-friendly spray from the world''s hottest chilli for personal protection and self-defence, Defence Minister A.K. Antony told Rajya Sabha Wednesday. The spray has been extracted from the Bhut Jolokia (Capsicum Assamicum), grown in Assam and other northeastern states. Antony said the Defence Research Laboratory (DRL) in Tezpur, a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), developed the chilli spray, dubbed "capsispray". "It is an eco-friendly non-lethal chilli spray for personal protection and self- defence. It contains Oleoresin Capsicum extracted from the world''s hottest chilli, the Bhut Jolokia," Antony said.…

06 Aug

Indigenous aircraft carrier made of special steel

New Delhi : Over 24,000 tonne of specially designed steel capable of withstanding "high impact load shock" has gone into the construction of India''s first indigenous aircraft carrier, officials said Monday. Commodore Saibal Sen, additional principal director, Naval Design, said here that DMR-249A and DMR-249B were among the qualities of steel that have been developed in the country and used in the aircraft carrier, which will be launched at Kochi Aug 12. He said while DMR-249A was at least twice in strength than normal steel, DMR 249B was thrice as tough. The high-end steel qualities for warships were developed following research…

03 Aug

India’s DRDO launches explosive detection kit in US

Washington : It looks like a little pocket sized cigar box, but it packs a mighty punch in the fight against terrorism. And now this nifty explosive detection kit, developed by the India''s Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO), is all set to play its part in the US too. Widely used in India by bomb detection squads and the armed forces since 2002, the handy kit would be manufactured and sold in the US and other parts of the world by Summerville, South Carolina-based Crowe and Company LLC under a technology transfer agreement, "We are planning to introduce the EDK…

04 Jul

Bigger industry role suggested in defence production

Kolkata : Greater participation of Indian industries is needed in defence equipment production and procurement, especially in the eastern region, and this requires well integrated private-public partnerships, an army official said Thursday. "India is a fast growing economy, yet it largely relies on imports of defence equipment. It is about time the Indian defence industry delivers and proves its mettle in superior defence preparedness and self-sufficiency in producing defence equipment," General Officer Commanding (GOC) Bengal Area Lt. Gen. A.K. Choudhary said here. "Many of our private industries are now global players. Now, we want to see more productive roles by all…

01 Jun

Avinash Chander Takes Over as 11th SA to RM

New Delhi: Dr. Avinash Chander took over his charge as Scientific Advisor to Raksha Mantri (SA to RM), Secretary Defence Research & Development and Dirctor General DRDO (Defence R&D Organization) in a brief ceremony here yesterday (Friday the 31st May 2013). Shri Avinash Chander has been appointed for a period of three years. Expressing determination to enhance the level of self-reliance in defence sector, he affirmed, “We are looking forward to further growth in indigenous capabilities and achieve a goal of 75% self-reliance. DRDO has tremendous potential and the right critical mass to deliver. Today the ambience is right, with the…

01 Jun

Avinash Chander new SA to Antony and DRDO Chief

New Delhi: Dr Avinash Chander has been appointed as the new Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister (SA to RM), Secretary Deptt of Defence R&D and DG DRDO for a period of three years. “I feel honoured to take up this new responsibility. Dr Saraswat has set DRDO on a good course, I have to continue and take it to the next level” said Dr Avinash Chander on his appointment. In recognition of his immense contributions towards strengthening the National Defence, Government of India honoured him with the prestigious PADMA SHRI Award. He is an eminent Missile Scientist and the Chief Architect…

27 May

In season of blame, a defence

This, I fear, is the season of bashing the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), because it’s a time when our defence services project their wishlists for the latest in weapon systems and arms merchants from all over the globe flock to Delhi peddling their wares. Some of their products may still be on the drawing board and some may have grown old awaiting a buyer, readying for a graceful retirement. No matter, blame the DRDO for delays, poor performance in trials and lack of manufacturing base and opt for imports. From 2005 to 2013, the total value of…