India Names New DRDO Chief
By vivek raghuvanshi
Published: 1 Sep 2009 10:08
NEW DELHI - The Indian scientist behind the nation's indigenous anti-ballistic missile project and the Agni series of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles has been named as the chief of India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
"Eminent missile scientist Dr Vijay Kumar Saraswat today took over the charge of Secretary, Department of Defence Research & Development, Scientific Adviser to Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister) and Director General, Defence Research and Development Organization from M. Natarajan, who superannuated after an illustrious career of 39 years in DRDO," says the official release of the Indian Defence Ministry.
Saraswat, who holds a Ph.D in combustion engineering, started his career in DRDO in 1972 at the Defence Research and Development Laboratory, Hyderabad, and was responsible for development of the country's first liquid propulsion engine.
Saraswat takes over the reins of DRDO from Natarajan at a time when the Defence Ministry is planning structural changes in the organization to speed up defense projects, several of which are decades behind schedule, including the ambitious Light Combat Aircraft program.
In the years ahead, DRDO and its 50 laboratories will be involved in more cooperative projects with overseas agencies, opening the door of the traditional inward-looking organization, a Defence Ministry official said.
DRDO is likely to see co-development projects involving radars, UAVs and air defense systems, the official added.
