A monthly house bulletin of Defence Research & Development Organisation ■ Vol. 34 No. 6 ■ June 2014
Beyond visual range Astra, an all-aspect, all-weather air-to-air missile with high single-shot kill probability, active radar terminal
guidance, excellent electronic counter-countermeasures,
smokeless propulsion and process-improved effectiveness in multi-
target scenario, is a highly advanced indigenous state-of the-
art missile
2 June 2014
Celebrating India's Scientific Prowess
Dr AK Maini, Dr G Malakondaiah, Shri Avinash Chander and Shri Ashok Kumar releasing DRDO Technology Spectrum. Top: Dr AK Maini, Dr G Malakondaiah, and Shri Avinash Chander at the inaugural function
Sports Round-up
Personnel News
Visitors to Labs/Estts
Inside the Issue
Indigenous BVR Astra test-fired successfully from Su-30 Aircraft
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Editor-in-ChiefSK Jindal
Associate Editor-in-ChiefAshok Kumar
EditorManoj Kumar
Local CorrespondentsAgra: Shri Vikas B Thakare, Aerial Delivery Research & Development Establishment (ADRDE); Ahmednagar: Shri AS Patil, Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (VRDE); Balasore/Chandipur: Shri PK Mohanty, Integrated Test Range (ITR); Dr AK Sannigrahi, Proof & Experimental Establishment (PXE); Bengaluru: Smt Bala V, Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE); Dr Y Purushottam, Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS); Shri Nitin Rai, Centre for Artificial Intelligence & Robotics (CAIR); Ms Tripty Rani Bose, Centre for Military Airworthiness & Certification (CEMILAC); Shri Samrahara Prasad Patro, Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE); Dr G Sripathy, Defence Bio-Engineering & Electro-Medical Laboratory (DEBEL); Shri Kiran G, Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE); Shri KM Veerabhadra, Electronics & Radar Development Establishment (LRDE); Dr Latha Christie, Microwave Tube Research & Development Centre (MTRDC); Chandigarh: Shri Niraj Srivastava, Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory; Chennai: Shri PD Jayaram, Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE); Dehradun: Shri Atul Dev, Defence Electronics Application Laboratory (DEAL); Dr MK Pande, Instruments Research & Development Establishment (IRDE); Delhi: Dr Rajendra Singh, Centre for Fire, Explosive & Environment Safety (CFEES); Mrs Kartiki Mishra, Centre for Personnel Talent Management (CEPTAM); Dr Praveen Vats, Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences (DIPAS); Dr Vijay Prakash, Defence Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR); Shri Ram Prakash, Defence Terrain Research Laboratory (DTRL); Dr Rajeev Vij, Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Science (INMAS); Shri Arun Dayal, Institute of Systems Studies & Analyses (ISSA); Shri Ajay Sharma, Laser Science & Technology Centre (LASTEC); Shri Raj Kumar Jain, Recruitment & Assessment Centre (RAC); Smt Kamini Malhotra, Scientific Analysis Group (SAG); Dr Shankar Datta, Solid State Physics Laboratory (SSPL); Gwalior: Shri RK Srivastava, Defence R&D Establishment (DRDE); Haldwani: Dr Atul Grover, Defence Institute of Bio-Energy Research (DIBER); Hyderabad: Shri Hemant Kumar, Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL); Shri ARC Murthy, Defence Electronics Research Laboratory (DLRL); Dr Manoj Kumar Jain, Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL); Dr K Nageswara Rao, Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL); Shri N Venkatesh, Research Centre Imarat (RCI); Jodhpur: Shri SK Sharma, Defence Laboratory (DL); Kanpur: Shri Ashok Kumar Gautam, Defence Materials & Stores Research & Development Establishment (DMSRDE); Kochi: Shri S Radhakrishnan, Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL); Leh: Dr Somen Acharya, Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR); Mussoorie: Shri Jaydip Kanango, Institute of Technology Management (ITM); Mysore: Dr M Pal Murugan, Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL); Pune: Shri AM Devale, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL); Shri SS Arole, Research & Development Establishment (Engrs) [R&DE (E)]; Tezpur: Dr Jayshree Das, Defence Research Laboratory (DRL); Visakhapatnam: Shri YSR Prasada Rao, Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL)Assistant EditorGeeta SharmaDesign & Pre-pressAnjan Kumar Das
Multimedia RK Bhatnagar
Printing SK Gupta; Hans Kumar
DistributionRP Singh
Printed & published by Director, DESIDOC, Metcalfe House, Delhi-54 Tel: 011-2390 2474; Fax: 011-2381 9151Website: www.drdo.gov.in/drdo/pub/PubFrameset.htmlE-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
ISSN: 0971-4391 ■ Vol. 34 No. 6 ■ June 2014
34th year of Publication
DRDO acquires Flying Test Bed
Akash Air Force version missile tested successfully
National Technology Day Celebrations
Anti-Terrorist Vehicles developed by VRDE
TCT-5 performs excellently in Missile Ejection Test
SA to RM inaugurates RTRS Penta Rail Supersonic Track
New Gas Turbine Engine Assembly Hangar at GTRE
Dr BR Ambedkar Jayanti Celebrations
Manpower Development Activities
Celebrating India's Scientific Prowess
Dr AK Maini, Dr G Malakondaiah, Shri Avinash Chander and Shri Ashok Kumar releasing DRDO Technology Spectrum. Top: Dr AK Maini, Dr G Malakondaiah, and Shri Avinash Chander at the inaugural function
4 June 2014
Indigenous BVR Astra missile test-fired successfully from Su-30 Aircraft
India’s first indigenously developed Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile Astra, was successfully test-fired by the Indian Air Force (IAF) on 4 May 2014 from a Naval range in the western sector meeting all the mission objectives. The air-launch was captured by side and forward looking high speed cameras and the separation was exactly as per the simulation. ASTRA, designed and developed by DRDO, possess high Single-Shot Kill Probability (SSKP) making it highly reliable. It is an all-aspect, all-weather missile with active radar terminal guidance, excellent Electronic Counter-Countermeasures (ECCM), smokeless propulsion and process-improved effectiveness in multi-target scenario making it a highly advanced state-of the-art missile.
and Development Laboratory (DRDL), and Shri P Venugopalan, former Director, DRDL among others, said, “This is one of the proudest moments for DRDO and the entire country.”
Dr K Tamilmani, DS and DG, Aeronautics (Aero), who oversaw the entire flight safety in the programme, said the quality of integration and performance was of highest standards and therefore there was no doubt in the success of the launch. He further added that this is the beginning of the phase for demonstration of launch over a wide air-launch envelope.
Dr S Venugopal, Project Director, Astra, described the air launch perfect in all respect and a culmination
Shri Avinash Chander, Scientific Advisor to Raksha Mantri, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and DG, DRDO, congratulated the team Astra for their high competence and tenacity to make such an event happen seamlessly. “Astra's successful launch from the Su-30 combat aircraft is a major step in missile aircraft integration. Extensive flight testing that preceded the air launch was a joint effort of DRDO and IAF. Many more trials are planned and will be conducted to clear the launch envelope. Test against actual target and weapon integration with Tejas will be done in the near future”, explicated Shri Chander.
Dr VG Sekaran, DS and DG, Missiles and Strategic Systems (MSS), who chaired the Flight Readiness Review Committee along with Shri S Som, OS and Director, Defence Research
of years of efforts by a very dedicated and competent team of the Missile Complex, Hyderabad, Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) and IAF. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) carried out the modification in Su-30 along with IAF specialists. Indian industries too played an important and enabling role in the production of reliable avionics, propulsion system, materials, airframe and software for the missile passing stringent airworthiness requirements.
The missile has undergone rigorous testing on Su-30 in the captive mode for avionics integration and seeker evaluation in 2013. The project has thus reached the final stage of testing and evaluation. The upgraded Mk-II variant of the missile with higher range capability is planned to be tested by the end of 2014.
Astra missile being fired from Su-30 aircraft
5June 2014
DRDO acquires Flying Test Bed“A long felt void to have
a flying test bed (FTB) for testing the airborne radars and aerospace systems developed by DRDO is fulfilled today”, said Shri Avinash Chander, SA to RM. SA was speaking on the occasion of taking over the FTB, 'Nabhrathna', from Shri RK Tyagi, Chairman, HAL, at Kanpur on 1 May 2014. “There are many systems lined up for testing such as Maritime Patrol Radar, Synthetic Aperture Radar, Data-link, Electrooptics and EW systems. The money invested in procuring this aircraft will give us returns many times more as the aircraft will prove its worth in the months to come. The use of FTB aircraft will reduce the cycle time for development for such airborne systems” added Shri Avinash Chander.
Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), a premier DRDO laboratory known for design and development leading to production of wide spectrum of indigenous radars, had entered into a contract with HAL for delivery of Modified Dornier DO-228 aircraft last
year for testing of airborne radars and other systems. Shri Tyagi in his address said that the test bed is named ‘Nabhrathna’ since it signifies a jewel in the sky. The whole programme of delivery was done in a short span of one year, even though the schedule was 18 months.
Dr K Tamilmani, DS and DG (Aero), Shri SS Sundaram, DS and DG (ECS), Shri S Ravind, DS and Director, LRDE, AVM Nambiar, Commandant, ASTE, Bengaluru and Shri VK Joshi, GM, HAL, Kanpur, were among the senior officials present on this momentous occasion.
Akash Air Force version missile tested successfullyTwo Akash missiles from the production lot of the
Air Force version were tested in two separated modes on 26 April 2014 successfully intercepting the fast moving incoming and receding manoeuvering targets. The complete Akash missile system, including Lakshya pilotless target system, was operated by IAF exploiting the overall capabilities of the system in different envelops. Two squadrons of Akash missile system, developed by DRDO, have been already inducted into the IAF. Senior IAF dignitaries along with Shri S Som, OS and Director, DRDL, Shri S Ravind, DS and Director, LRDE, and
Shri MVKV Prasad, OS and Director, Interim Test Range (ITR), witnessed the test fire. Shri Avinash Chander, SA to RM congratulated the teams from DRDO, production agencies, industry partners and IAF for the excellent coordinated demonstrations.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri G Chandramouli, Project Director, Akash, said that all the stated mission objectives have been met and the missile system has performed as expected. It is a notable achievement that the entire equipment of sophisticated radars, control centres, launchers and ground support systems for
Flying test bed Nabhrathna
6 June 2014
The cost-effective Akash missile system is modular and mobile with all its components including launchers either wheeled truck or trailer mounted. Good lateral acceleration capability of missile till intercept provides high manoeuvrability and capability against high performance air targets, such as tactical strike aircraft, bombers, high altitude reconnaissance aeroplane and armed helicopters.
Equipped with multi-function phased array radar with tracking utilising the modern electronic technology, the system has significant resistance to many kinds of active and passive jamming. All air defence functions such as classification, threat evaluation, prioritisation and missile launch are automated by virtue of usage of state-of-the-art computation platforms and software. The system is configurable to adapt to future requirement.
Akash missile system is under production at Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bengaluru, and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Hyderabad.
Thirteen DRDO labs, 19 Public Sector Units, five Ordnance Factories and more than 200 small, medium, and few large scale private industries have actively participated during the development and production of Akash weapon system.
IAF have been realised and produced in less than two years indicating the integrated capability of DRDO, Department of Defence Production, inspection agency, Missile System Quality Assurance Agency (MSQAA), and Indian industry. A path has been created for continuous production of sophisticated surface-to-air missile systems in the country through this programme. Shri Chandramouli sincerely thanked all the engineers/scientists/technicians who worked for this remarkable challenge set by the services and could demonstrate the performance of the system on production variants too.
Indian Air Force and Indian Army have placed orders for eight squadrons and two regiments of Akash missile system. The total production order for the systems is ì 23,000 Cr. Missile systems worth ì 3500 Cr have already delivered to the Services. In addition, 3D Central Acquisition Radar (3D-CAR), an offshoot from Akash missile system, is also in continuous production and induction into the three Services.
Akash is a mobile multi-directional, multi-target point/area defence system, which can simultaneously engage several air targets in a fully autonomous mode of operation. The hardware and software integration of various weapon system elements permits automated management of air defence functions such as programmable surveillance, target detection, target acquisition, tracking, identification, threat evaluation, prior--itisation, assignment and engagement. All the radars, command control centres, launchers are integrated to achieve these functionalities. The system is designed to enable integration with other air defence command and control networks through secure communication links. It also has advanced ECCM features at various levels.
Akash surface-to-air missile
7June 2014
The nuclear trials that happened in May 1998 changed the face of India in the eyes of the world in terms of technological capabilities, stated Shri Avinash Chander, SA to RM, while addressing DRDO fraternity on the occasion of National Technology Day (NTD) celebration of DRDO. Emphasising the importance of the event, Shri Avinash Chander said “While India gained a new respect because of that event, the scientists and engineers, who always endeavour to convert knowledge of science into useful products and technologies for the people, got recognition”. Remembering that memorable event on 11 May each year as the National Technology Day instills a sense of proud and self-confidence, he further asserted. “In terms of capabilities we have never been less than anyone else in the world. What we need is confidence in our own capabilities. Indeed the events on 11 May 1998 gave a major boost to our self-confidence, a feeling of ‘can do it’, a confidence that began reflecting in technological achievements one after the other. It is our persistent desire for change, a constant struggle for improvement and betterment, achieving something more competent and capable as compare to rest of the world and a determination to work on that is reflected in these achievements”, emphasised Shri Chander.
Highlighting some key achievements of DRDO in recent past, SA to RM said “We crossed the intercontinental barriers with Agni 5 becoming one of the four nations in the world possessing a multi-level strategic deterrence capability. Series of perfect launches of BO 5, underwater launched strategic missile, demonstrated our capability towards achieving the nuclear triad. The indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas achieved Initial Operational Clearance. LCA Navy began to fly. While Arjun Main Battle Tank (MBT) got inducted into services its highly improved Mk-II version has been developed and is undergoing trials. Trial of PDV exo-atmospheric interceptor preceded by series of successful launches of endo-atmospheric interceptor, development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Rustom I and Rustom II, Multibarrel Rocket Launch System Pinaka Mk-II, heavy-weight torpedo Varunastra and achievement of criticality of the nuclear reactor of INS Arihant are among the other major achievements achieved by us.” He also gave a glimpse of technology challenges associated with development of systems for future warfare such as morphing
aircraft, non-contact weapons and unmanned systems. Recollecting the struggles and challenges posed by more and more technology denials as the impact of India achieving nuclear capabilities, he mentioned how ongoing interactions by western countries were withheld forcing us to indigenously develop them.
Earlier Dr AK Maini, OS and Director, Laser Science and Technology Centre (LASTEC), Delhi, and Convener, Defence Science Forum (DSF), welcomed the SA and the august audience. Four DRDO scientists gave a detailed presentation of select DRDO technologies. SA to RM also gave mementoes to 14 Technology Day orators. He also released the Technology Spectrum, a compilation of Technology Day Orations by scientists of DRDO labs/estts, published by Defence Scientific Information and Documentation Centre (DESIDOC), Delhi. Dr G Malakondaiah, DS and CC R&D (HR), Dr Satish Kumar, DS and CC R&D (TM), Dr N Prabhakar, DS and CC R&D (SAM), Dr Sudershan Kumar, DS and CC R&D (PC&SI), Directors of DRDO labs and HQ, were present during the function. Shri Sanjay Pal, Sc F, and Secretary, DSF, proposed the vote of thanks.
The following DRDO labs also celebrated NTD at their respective places:
CABS, Bengaluru Shri RV Ramkumar, Sc D, presented the NTD
Oration titled Aircraft Icing and its Effects during the NTD celebration.
National Technology Day Celebrations
Shri Avinash Chander addressing DRDO fraternity on NTD
8 June 2014
LRDE, Bengaluru Electronics and Radar Development Establishment
(LRDE), Bengaluru, celebrated NTD on 13 May 2014. Shri S Ravind, DS and Director, LRDE, inaugurated the celebrations and brought out the importance of the Day. Shri Rakesh Tripathi, Sc E, delivered NTD Oration on Phased Array with Digital Beam Forming Technology for Mountain Radar. Shri Ravind presented the DRDO Titanium Medal and Commendation Certificate to the orator.
MTRDC, Bengaluru Microwave Tubes Research and Development
Centre (MTRDC), Bengaluru, celebrated NTD on 12 May 2014. Shri Senthil Kumar, Sc D, delivered NTD Oration on Pulsed Power and Technologies for High Power Microwaves. Dr Lalit Kumar, OS and Director, MTRDC, presented DRDO Titanium Medal and Commendation Certificate to Shri Senthil Kumar.
PXE, Chandipur National Technology Day 2014 was celebrated
in Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE), Chandipur, on 13 May 2014. Shri Arkadeb Banerjee, Sc D, delivered NTD Oration on Modelling the Behaviour of Armour Steel Material under Ballistic Impact Condition. Shri Appavuraj, Director, PXE, awarded the Titanium Medal and Commendation Certificate to Shri Banerjee.
Shri Lalit Kumar (left) presenting commendation certificate to Shri Senthil Kumar
NSTL, VisakhapatnamNaval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL),
Visakhapatnam, celebrated NTD on 12 May 2014. Shri AVS Chari, Officiating Director, NSTL, stressed on the need for the younger generation to dedicate themselves to innovative research in cutting-edge technologies. To commemorate the occasion, Prof. Navakanta Bhat from Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, and Dr V Kesava Raju from ISRO, Bengaluru, delivered talks on Nano Technology and Mars Orbiter Mission, respectively. Shri V Praveen Kumar, Sc C, gave NTD Oration on Development of Real-time Hardware-in-Loop Simulation Model for Evaluation of Control and Guidance Systems of Underwater Vehicles. Shri Chari presented the DRDO Titanium Medal and Commendation Certificate to Shri Praveen Kumar.
RCI, Hyderabad Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad,
celebrated NTD on 12 May 2014. Dr SK Shiva Kumar, Director, ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC), Bengaluru, was the Chief Guest and Prof. VS Rao, Director, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Hyderabad, was the Guest of Honour. Shri G Satheesh Reddy, OS and Director, RCI, presided over the function. He exhorted scientists to interact more actively with academicians of reputed institutions in missile R&D. Dr N Vijaya Bhaskar, Sc D, delivered NTD Oration on A Novel Umblical Retraction Mechanism. The Chief Guest presented the DRDO Titanium Medal and Commendation Certificate to the orator.
R&DE (E), Pune Research and Development Establishment
(Engineers) [R&DE (E)], Pune, celebrated NTD on 12 May 2014. Shri AR Vaidya, GM, Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), Pune, delivered a talk on Advanced Technologies being developed at BEL. Shri Avinash Ecka, Sc B, gave NTD Oration on Phenolic film for Resin Film Infusion Process and was presented DRDO Titanium Medal and Commendation Certificate by the Chief Guest.
Shri Appavuraj (left) presenting Titanium Medal to Shri Banerjee
9June 2014
TCT-5 performs excellently in Missile Ejection Test
Anti-Terrorist Vehicles developed by VRDE
DRDO successfully evaluated Transport-cum-Tilting vehicle-5 (TCT-5), designed and developed by VRDE, Ahmednagar, for launch of canister-based missile Agni 5. TCT-5 vehicle transported a 65 ton canister-based dummy missile fitted with two rocket motors and a gas generator unit to the test site where it was tested exercising missile ejection test (MET).
TCT-5 has a unique configuration of 140 ton GVW hydraulic gooseneck steerable trailer launching mechanism with overall dimension of 30 m (length) x 3.2 m (width) x 4.4 m (height). It has an electronic controller for all auto and remote operations, a 23 kVA genset, a PTO driven hydraulic powerpack and can
therefore carry out launch operation without any external power source and logistics. Various performance parameters, like vibration, strain, deflection, etc., were measured during the test. The vehicle was found stable without any damage and is now ready for the next launch.
Shri Avinash Chander, SA to RM; Dr VG Sekaran, DG (MSS); Vice Admiral SPS Cheema, AVSM, NM, C-in-C, SFC; Shri K Jayaraman, Director ASL; Shri G Satheesh Reddy, Director RCI; and Dr Manmohan Singh, Director VRDE, witnessed the MET. Shri Sanjay Chaudhuri, Sc F, and his team has filed patent for the innovative design of the TCT-5.
Aftermath of 26/11 dictated the need for an agile, compact, highly manoeuvrable armoured envelope adequately protected to carry two to three persons in hostile environment especially in buildings, small gullies, constrained spaces of hide outs, etc. Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (VRDE), Ahmednagar, has developed wheeled, tracked and low-noise electric anti-terrorist vehicles (ATVs) to meet these varied needs of anti-terrorist operations at the behest of Ministry of Home Affairs. These compact size vehicles can carry fully equipped three combatants.
Each vehicle weighs 3 ton and provides an all-round protection from small arms and hand grenades. The vehicles can be easily deployed in the corridors of hotels and hostile terrains where it is difficult to operate in a normal wheeled vehicle. The vehicles have a very low turning circle diameter and can turn around within a limited space. The tracked version of ATV has been ballistically tested by Central Reserve Police Force at Dausa, Rajasthan and has also undergone a successful grenade trial at Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Chandigarh.
10 June 2014
Shri Avinash Chander, SA to RM, inaugurated Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) Penta Rail Supersonic Track—a national test facility—at Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Chandigarh, on 12 May 2014. “India is among a handful of countries in the world now possessing this unique test facility. This four kilometer long RTRS penta track will be extremely useful for the testing of wide range of critical systems such as payload for manned missions of ISRO, the navigation system for missiles and aircraft, proximity fuses for advanced warheads, fuses for armament systems, parachutes for payload delivery, arrester systems for aircraft such as LCA”, said SA to RM while inaugurating the facility. Dr SS Sundaram, DS and DG (ECS), Dr Satish Kumar, DS and CC R&D (TM), Shri Ajay Singh, Chief Executive (CW&E), Shri M Balakrishnan and Shri VS Sethi, both former Directors, TBRL, and officers and staff of TBRL were also present on the auspicious occasion.
Later, while delivering the Technology Day address, Shri Avinash Chander stated that I am glad that today we have added another key facility in TBRL. He lauded the efforts of TBRL in developing key technologies that are strategically important for the security of the nation.
SA to RM inaugurates RTRS Penta Rail Supersonic Track
Dr Manjit Singh, OS and Director, TBRL, said that the facility consists of five rails, each having a length of four kilometers, on which a test article can be propelled at supersonic speed with the help of especially designed rockets. The track built for this purpose is precision aligned and capable of withstanding heavy load. The capability so acquired will accelerate the pace of development of defence and aerospace technologies and products.
SA witnessed the demonstration of new advanced
warheads. He also inaugurated new building of Ballistics Vidyalaya, a school run by DRDO Educational Society, and Sampooran Singh Officers' Transit Facility in the premises of TBRL residential area, both at Ramgarh.
L to R: Shri VS Sethi, Dr Manjit Singh, Shri Avinash Chander, Shri M Balakrishnan at trial site for Radio Proximity Fuze
testing of Astra missile on Penta Rail Track
SA to RM inaugurating RTRS Penta Rail Supersonic Track
11June 2014
Assembly of a prototype gas turbine engine is a well-orchestrated activity with many modules participating to realise the product. During developmental testing, each prototype engine is uniquely built to meet specific test objectives and has a set of hardware modifications and instrumentation. The prototype assembly hangar contrasts a production line hangar with increased design involvement and extensive instrumentations; the engine is frequently rebuilt as its components are subjected to various studies.
Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), Bengaluru, has commissioned a prototype engine assembly facility, a floor area of more than 2000 square meters, and the necessary auxiliary facilities to support the engine building activities. Provident measures have been taken by providing high roof and wider shop area and by setting-up higher capacity hoists to undertake oversize assemblies such as integrated marine engine and power turbine on base frame.
The hangar has dedicated functional areas in the order of assembly process for engine receipt/dispatch, modular assembly/disassembly and inspection. Four
New Gas Turbine Engine Assembly Hangar at GTRE
engines can be simultaneously built or dismantled. New assembly hangar has facilities such as vertical and horizontal rotor balancing machines and 3D Coordinate Measurement Machine (CMM), capable of measuring components and systems of 3 m x 3 m x 2.5 m. The facility has been especially built for large assembled casings, assemblies and engines.
Inside view of the assembly hangar
Engines under assembly
12 June 2014
Dr BR Ambedkar Jayanti Celebrations CAIR, Bengaluru
Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR), Bengaluru, celebrated 123rd Jayanti of Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar on 14 April 2014. CAIR and Rotary Bangalore-TTK Blood Bank, a not for profit organisation of Rotary Club, Bengaluru, organised a blood donation camp to commemorate the occasion. Ms Lakshmi Ravichandran, Honorary Trustee, Bangalore Medical Services Trust (BMST), was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Twenty-five CAIR employees donated blood.
Suneel Kumar, IPS, Additional Director General of Police, Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement, Karnataka, was the Guest of Honour. Justice Venkatachaliah spoke about the contributions of Dr BR Ambedkar towards political stability in India. As a part of the event, a documentary film on the Life and Achievements of Dr BR Ambedkar was shown to the audience. Shri S Ravind, DS and Director, LRDE, presided over the function.
R&DE (E), PuneResearch and Development Establishment
(Engineers) [R&DE (E)], Pune, celebrated Sanyukt Jayanti of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (384th) and Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar (123rd) on 22 April 2014. Sou Sindhutai Sapkal, the renowned social worker was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Addressing the gathering, Dr S Guruprasad, OS and Director R&DE(E), said that while Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj established Swarajya and Dr BR Ambedkar framed India’s Constitution based on equality, Sou Sindhutai Sapkal is practising the same in her social work. Sou Sindhutai Sapkal, in her address, spoke about the moral values of life. Voluntary contribution from employees was donated to the Sanmati Bal Niketan Sanstha Charitable Trust run by Sou Sindhutai Sapkal for helping orphans. On this occasion, Shri Maruti D Jadhav, Technician B and Shri Imran S Attar, Technician A, were felicitated for saving three students from drowning. Shri D Kurma, Technician C, was also honoured for being awarded DRDO Best Performance Award 2013. Earlier in the day, a voluntary blood and eye donation camp was organised.
Ms Lakshmi Ravichandran lighting the lamp
Dr Guruprasad welcoming Sou Sindhutai Sapkal
LRDE, Bengaluru Electronics and Radar Development Establishment
(LRDE), Bengaluru, celebrated Ambedkar Jayanti with great enthusiasm on 9 May 2014. Hon’ble Justice (Retd)MN Venkatachaliah was the Chief Guest and Shri T
Justice Venkatachaliah lighting the lamp
13June 2014
Conferences/Seminars/Symposia/Training Courses/MeetingsManpower Development Activities
welcomed the guests and the participants. In his inaugural address, Shri G Satheesh Reddy, emphasised the need for reviewing the testing procedures presently being adopted and the significance of smart packaging and expressed that this workshop will provide a roadmap for the next 15 years in the fields of environmental testing and electronic packaging.
Five invited talks were delivered by experts in the areas of ESS Testing, Electronic Packaging Configuration of Flight Data Recorder, Latest Cooling Techniques, Multi-axis Vibration Testing, etc. A Panel Discussion was conducted with an objective to lay a roadmap for the future under the chairmanship of Shri MSR Prasad, OS and Programme Director, ANSP, Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad. A total of 100 participants attended the workshop from the Missile Complex, Strategic Systems Quality Assurance Group (SSQAG), Missile System Quality Assurance Agency (MSQAA) and the office of Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DGAQA).
Shri P Anil Kumar, Sc E, RCI, was the Organising Secretary.
Workshop on Aerospace Quality Management System
A two-day workshop on Aerospace Quality Management System was organised by Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), Bengaluru, from 24-25 April 2014. The workshop was intended to create awareness about the aerospace standard AS 9100-2009, among the top-level management executives. Thirty-three participants from various aero cluster labs, DG (Aero) office, RCMA and DGQA, participated in the workshop.
In his inaugural speech Dr CP Ramanarayanan, OS and Director, GTRE, expressed that adopting best practices will improve the overall quality of the work and will help to meet the goals and objectives of the organisation. Shri NV Nagesan, Lead Auditor, M/s DNV, in his oration explicated on various clauses of AS 9100-2009 and quoted several examples from industries to lay emphasis on the need to adopt this standard.
Workshop on Latest Trends in Environ-mental Testing and Electronic Packaging
Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, organised a workshop on Latest Trends in Environmental Testing and Electronic Packaging (LTETEP-2014) on 15 April 2014. Shri G Satheesh Reddy, OS and Director, RCI, inaugurated the workshop. Shri KVVS Prasada Rao, former CC R&D (MSS) and Chairman, NTRO, was the Chief Guest and Shri V Ramanaiah, General Manager SMP and ETF, SDSC/SHAR was the Guest of Honour on the occasion.
Shri T Narasimha Rao, Sc G, Technology Director, ENTEST, Shri V Ramanaiah lighting the lamp
14 June 2014
Appointments
Personnel News
ARDE, PuneDr KM Rajan, Outstanding
Scientist, has taken over as Director, Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune, with effect from 1 April 2014.Dr Rajan obtained his BTech in Mechanical Engineering from
Regional Engineering College, Calicut and MTech in Mechanical Design Engineering from IIT Bombay both with distinction. He obtained his PhD from IIT Bombay in the area of flow forming.
Dr Rajan joined ARDE in 1984 as Scientist B through campus recruitment. He is an expert in solid rocket propulsion design and has been spearheading the development of artillery Multi Barrel Rocket Launching Systems (MBRLS). He was the principal designer of the ARDE’s flagship project Pinaka MBRLS. He has worked for establishing the key technologies of flow formed rocket motors using ESR grade AISI 4130 steel and Silica Phenolic TPS for the rocket motors, and multiple centres across the country for bulk manufacture of flow formed rocket motors.
He has contributed to several ARDE projects such as FSAPDS ammunition for T-72 and Arjun MBT, warheads, Naval rocket projects, CLGM, Advanced Towed Artillery System (ATAGS), etc., as Chairman of Design Review Committee, Project Review Committee, Trial Readiness Committee, Post Flight Analysis Committee, Configuration Review Committee and Failure Analysis Board. Dr Rajan was the Project Director for enhancing the range of the 20 km range GRAD Russian Rocket to 34 km, for the Remotely Delivered Munition Systems. He has been working as the Project Director for Pinaka Mk II, which has already proved its enhanced range capability.
Dr Rajan has immensely contributed as Management Representative (MR) for effective implementation of ISO 9001-2008 QMS in ARDE and has been instrumental in creating many infrastructure facilities like Rocket Technology Centre, dynamic balancing machine, hydraulic and burst testing facility for rocket motors of different calibers, Structural Testing and Ground Resonance Test Facility, Advanced CNC Machining Centre, CMMs and Two Roller Flow Forming Centre for flow forming copper cones.
He is internationally known for his contributions in Flow Forming Technology and has published research on flow forming of rocket motors in peer reviewed research journals. He has demonstrated excellent techno-managerial skills, devotion, commitment and meticulous planning. He was an expert member from DRDO deputed to PERM, Russia in August 2013 as part of an Army delegation and is also nominated DRDO Expert in the Joint Working Group (JWG) of OFB and DRDO.
Dr Rajan is the recipient of many awards including: DRDO Performance Excellence Award-2002; Bharat Jyoti Award -2006; Laboratory Technology Group Award-2008; HEMSI Silver Jubilee Award-2011; Scientist of the Year Award-2011; and Performance Excellence Award-2012.
He is Fellow of Institution of Engineers India, IE (I); Life Member of Indian Society for Non Destructive Testing (ISNDT); High Energy Materials Society of India (HEMSI); Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI); Life Member, Astronautical Society of India; and INSARM and General Secretary, INSARM, National Council.
MILIT, Pune
Rear Admiral AS Sethi, VSM, assumed the command of Military Institute of Training (MILIT), Pune, on 2 May 2014 from AVM PP Khandekar who moves to HQ Central Air Command as Senior Maintenance Staff Officer (SMSO).
15June 2014
Award
Higher Qualification Achieved
Sports Round-up
Social Innovation Award-2012Dr PC Deb, former Director, Naval Materials Research
Laboratory (NMRL), Ambernath; Dr Kshipra Mishra, Sc F, Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS), Delhi; Smt Alips Srivastava, Sc D, NMRL; Shri MT Companywala, Sc C, NMRL and Smt Sanskriti, STA B, NMRL have been jointly awarded Social Innovation Award–2012 from National Research Development Corporation, Ministry of S&T, New Delhi, for the development and implementation of DRDO Arsenic Removal Technology (DART). Dr R Chidambaram, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, presented the award. The award includes a cash prize of ì 3 lakh.
Trekking Expedition to Kalsubai PeakVehicles Research and Development Establishment
(VRDE), Ahmednagar, conducted DRDO West Zone Trekking Expedition-2013 to Kalsubai Peak, Sahyadri Ranges, at Bari Village, Akola, Ahmednagar. Kalsubai Peak, 5400 ft, is the highest peak of Maharashtra. It is situated on Kalsubai mountain range, which is an offshoot range from main Sahyadri range, and runs from west to east.
Hundred-and-two participants from DRDO HQ and laboratories were the part of the expedition. Colonel Shaji Varghese, Chairman Sports Committee, VRDE, flagged off the expedition. Dr Manmohan Singh, Director, VRDE, distributed medals and certificates to the participants.
RCI, Hyderabad
Shri P Nageswara Rao, Sc F, Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, has been awarded PhD in Physics by Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, for his thesis titled Modelling and Simulation of Superfluorescent Fiber Source at 1550 nm and its Characterisation.
Real Admiral Sethi, an MTech from IIT Kharagpur, is from electrical branch of the Indian Navy. During his illustrious career, the Flag Officer has held various appointments on frontline warships and instructional and staff appointments ashore. He has led complex system design projects at Weapons and Electronics System Engineering Establishment (WESEE), a premier R&D establishment of the Navy at New Delhi.
Rear Admiral Sethi has commanded the Navy’s electrical training establishment INS Valsura and was the first ADG (Tech) of Project Seabird at Karwar. Rear Admiral Sethi is an alumnus of Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington, Naval War College and National Defence College, Bangladesh.
AVM PP Khandekar handing over the baton of MILIT to Rear Admiral AS Sethi
Trekkers on top of Kalsubai Peak
16 June 2014
Visitors to Labs/EsttsCAIR, Bengaluru
Air Vice Marshal PP Khandekar, Director, Military Institute of Training (MILIT), Girinagar, Pune, visited Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR) on 1 April 2014. Shri Sanjay Burman, OS and Director, CAIR, briefed AVM Khandekar about the activities
of the laboratory. The visitor was also demonstrated technologies developed by CAIR in the area of security
systems and information security, technical situational awareness for lower echelon and visualisation technologies.
GTRE, BengaluruShri Avinash Chander,
SA to RM, visited Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) on 8 May 2014. Dr K Tamilmani, DS and DG (Aero) and Dr CP Ramanarayanan, OS and Director, GTRE, briefed SA on the latest achievements
in engine development programme.
SA to RM also witnessed the critical engine components and autonomous test demonstration of the Kaveri engine.
Air Vice Marshal Khandekar being briefed about information security technologies
Shri Avinash Chander being briefed about the Kaveri engine
