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From the Editor-in-Chief

As we come to the end of 2016 and beginning of 2017, it is timely to reflect upon all that has

happened over the past 12 months. Through this “Annual Issue”, our endeavour, firstly is to convey New Year’s Greetings to all our valued readers, dedicated and sincere contributors, and, to recapitulate the key events of DRDO through an assortment of images of the months gone by.

Let me start by reiterating that the DESIDOC team is focused on enhancing the status of the magazine. To that extent our readers will note that the all processes have been put in place for the accelerated release of the magazine. The Magazine is punctual and now comes out on its pre-established date. However the challenge still remains to enhance the role of the monthly magazine which is to be valued in terms of its efforts in reaching out to masses, stakeholders and in building brand DRDO. In this effort, a new template for the magazine has been created, for which I duly credit the efforts of DPI at DRDO HQ. The new look Newsletter is vibrant, trendy, and rich with text

and images. It has an innovative presentation of the news and events happening across DRDO.

I also profoundly thank Dr S Christopher, Chairman DRDO and Secretary, DDR&D for his initiative to write monthly column in every issue of the Newsletter. His column is inspiring, motivating, and thought-provoking and I am sure young scientists of DRDO will take cue and contribute their best in making DRDO an incubator of excellence for innovation and development. I also like to reflect upon that 2016 has been a year of continued growth and continuing in our efforts to deal with difficulties such as short staffing and excessive workloads. To overcome this deficiency I depend upon the equity partnership of DRDO labs as success is possible only with the cooperation of our labs and valued readers.

In this effort I invite DRDO community to try their hands at writing columns on the varied subjects covering topics from the fields of science, technology, global peace and security, proliferation of arms/disarmaments and likewise other topical subjects. These columns could run into

series through couple of issues. This general coverage will give a different dimension to the magazine beyond routine reporting of the events and help enhancing the interest of our readers. You may recall in 2016, we have started a series on the similar note, every issue covers an article on the evolution of DRDO which is taken from the monograph “DRDO History: 1958-1982”.

We all approach the year’s end knowing that more, much more, needs to be done and as I look to the year ahead, I reiterate with confidence, the commitment that DESIDOC will continue with even greater enthusiasm and dedication.

For now, as the most special time of the year, I will end by wishing every one, their families and friends, a very happy New Year, and may you all enjoy good health, peace of mind and happiness in 2017.

Gopal BhushanDirector, DESIDOC

Some reflections of the Year 2016

DRDO newsletteR

3www.drdo.gov.in AnniversAry issue 2016

Defence Research & Development Organisation

2016 Anniversary IssueIn this IssueDRDO bags Best Pavilion Award in India-International Science Festival 2015 .......................................4ToT of Radiological Decontamination Skin Wipe REMOCON ..................................................................4Raksha Mantri inaugurates Universal Pilot Plant at HEMRL ..................................................................5Dr Christopher inaugurates ICAT at ARDE..............................................................................................5DRDO showcased Defence Technologies in Indian Science Congress .....................................................6DESIDOC participates in World Book Fair ..............................................................................................6DLJ signs ToT for Cam and IRR Paints ....................................................................................................6Dr Christopher inaugurates AIP Workshop at NMRL & Linear Accelerator Facility at TBRL .....................7Test Firing of New Tank Ammunition for MBT Arjun .............................................................................8DRDO-Industry Meet on Next Generation Protective Ensemble ............................................................8Indian Navy showcased Biodiesel Patrolling Boats ...............................................................................9CHESS develops High Speed Tracker Module for Directed Energy Laser System ....................................9National Science Day celebration at DRDO..........................................................................................10ARDE establishes state-of-the-art Fixed Firing Stand Facility .............................................................10DRDO celebrates International Women’s Day ......................................................................................11DRDO brings alive Spirit of Make In India at DEFEXPO 2016 ................................................................12Raksha Mantri flags off Indigenous Composite Sonar Dome ..............................................................12Raksha Mantri releases Brahmand World Defence Update Yearbook ..................................................13Tejas Real Time Simulator ready for formal Training ...........................................................................14Indian Army successfully test fires Akash Missiles ..............................................................................14Thermal Assisted Friction Stir Welding Machine established at NMRL ................................................14Raksha Mantri releases Compendium of Granted & Active Patents to DRDO .......................................15DIPAS organises Yoga Training for Defence Wing Staff ........................................................................15License agreement for Commercialisation of Microbiological Quality Test Kit.....................................16DRDO celebrates National Technology Day .........................................................................................16Tejas inducted into Indian Air Force ....................................................................................................17RM Hands Over Varunastra to Indian Navy .........................................................................................18MRSAM Test Fired Successfully ...........................................................................................................18DRDO embarked Major Success in Advanced Artillery Gun System .....................................................19VRDE Hands Over Rotary Engine to ADE .............................................................................................19RM launches Test-o-Milk Kit ...............................................................................................................19DFRL transfers Food Technologies ......................................................................................................20Secretary DDR&D lays Foundation of JCB Centre for Advanced Technology .........................................20DRDO establishes Centre of Propulsion Technology at IIT Bombay and Madras ..................................20DRDO showcased Indigenous Defence Products & Technologies in Parliament ...................................21MoD commemorates Ist Death Anniversary of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam ....................................................22India successfully Flight Tests Long-Range SAM .................................................................................23ToT of Ready-to-Eat Bars & Performance Enhancement Drink Technology..........................................23Anti-tank Nag Missile System demonstrated Successfully..................................................................24ARDE Seat Ejection Parachutes & Arrestor Barriers boon for IAF..........................................................25ADM Warhead for PINAKA clears Trial .................................................................................................25Navy Inducts Indigenous Sonars ........................................................................................................26RUSTOM-II Successfully Completes Maiden Flight ..............................................................................26DRDO signs MoU with IIT Delhi to Establish JATC ................................................................................27DRDO hosts 58th Conference of IMTA .................................................................................................27

Website: www.drdo.gov.inEmail: [email protected]: 011-23902403; 23902474; Fax: 011-23819151

LocaL correspondentsAhmednagar: Lt Col. AK Singh, Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (VRDE); Ambernath: Dr Susan Titus, Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL); Balasore/Chandipur: Shri Santosh Munda, Integrated Test Range (ITR); Dr AK Sannigrahi, Proof & Experimental Establishment (PXE); Bengaluru: Shri Subbukutti S, Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE); Smt MR Bhuvaneswari, Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS); Smt Faheema AGJ, Centre for Artificial Intelligence & Robotics (CAIR); Ms Tripty Rani Bose, Centre for Military Airworthiness & Certification (CEMILAC); Smt Josephine Nirmala M, Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE); Shri Kiran G, Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE); Shri KM Veerabhadra, Electronics & Radar Development Establishment (LRDE); Dr Vishal Kesari, Microwave Tube Research & Development Centre (MTRDC); Chandigarh: Dr HS Gusain, Snow & Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE); Shri Ashok Kumar Dahiya, Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL); Chennai: Shri PD Jayaram, Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE); Dehradun: Shri Abhai Mishra, Defence Electronics Applications Laboratory (DEAL); Shri JP Singh, Instruments Research & Development Establishment (IRDE); Delhi: Shri Ashutosh Bhatnagar, Centre for Personnel Talent Management (CEPTAM); Dr Rajendra Singh, Centre for Fire, Explosive & Environment Safety (CFEES); Dr KP Mishra, Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences (DIPAS); Dr Dolly Bansal, Defence Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR); Shri Ram Prakash, Defence Terrain Research Laboratory (DTRL); Shri Navin Soni, Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS); Smt Anjana Sharma, Institute for Systems Studies & Analyses (ISSA); Dr Indu Gupta, Laser Science & Technology Centre (LASTEC); Shri Sanjay Pal, Recruitment & Assessment Centre (RAC); Ms Noopur Shrotriya, Scientific Analysis Group (SAG); Dr Rupesh Kumar Chaubey, 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 Pramod K Jha, Centre for Advanced Systems (CAS); Dr JK Rai, Advanced Numerical Research & Analysis Group (ANURAG); Shri JP Singh, Centre for High Energy Systems & Sciences (CHESS); 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 Ravindra Kumar, 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 Dorjey Angchok, Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR); Mussoorie: Dr Gopa B Choudhury, Institute of Technology Management (ITM); Mysuru: Dr M Palmurugan and Shri NV Nagraj, Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL); Pune: Dr (Mrs) JA Kanetkar, Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE); Dr Vijay Pattar, Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT); 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: Dr (Mrs) V Vijaya Sudha, Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL)

Brought out By: DESIDoC, DElhI-110 054For feedback, please contact: [email protected]

Website: www.drdo.gov.in; Tel: 011-23902403; 23902474; Fax: 011-23819151

nEWSLETTER

36th Year of PublicationISSN: 0971-4391

editor-in-chiefGopal Bhushansenior editorB NityanandeditorManoj Kumarassistant editorGeeta SharmaMultimedia RK Bhatnagarprinting SK Gupta; Hans KumarMarketingTapesh Sinha, RP Singh

4 www.drdo.gov.inANNiveRSARy iSSue 2016

ToT of Radiological Decontamination Skin Wipe REMOCON

DRDO bags Best Pavilion Award in India- International Science Festival 2015

JANUARY 2016

DRDO won the Best Pavilion Award in the Mega Science, Technology and Industry Expo organized by the Department of Science and Technology and Department

of Earth Sciences, Government of India during India-International Science Festival 2015. A jury of senior members of Vijnan Bharati judged DRDO’s pavilion as best pavilion based on the design, exhibits, response of visitors and the quality of explanations provided by the exhibitors. On behalf of DRDO,

Shri Hari Babu Srivastava, OS and Director, Laser Science and Technology Centre (LASTEC), Delhi, received the Award from Dr Harsh Vardhan, Hon’ble Union Minister of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences on 7 December 2015. IIT Delhi hosted the event during 4-8 December 2015. Around two lakh visitors visited the exhibition. DRDO pavilion was the star attraction of the exhibition with overwhelming crowds of students keen to understand military technologies.

Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Applied Sciences (INMAS), Delhi, transferred the patented technology of ‘REMOCON’ Skin Wipe

for radiological decontamination to M/s Novel Tissue Pvt Ltd, Mysore. Dr AK Singh, OS and Director INMAS, exchanged the ToT documents with Shri AB Dodamani, President, M/s Novel Tissue Pvt Ltd.

Self-usable REMCON can be used in the mass casualty events resulting from nuclear and radiological emergencies. The active constituents of REMCON could effectively remove most of the toxic radio-nuclides, is skin safe and have unique ability to adhere to the localised area on skin. The wipe can be sealed back after use in the innovatively designed metal-free package.

Dr Christopher inaugurates ICAT at ARDEDr S Christopher, Secretary, Department of Defence

R&D and DG (DRDO) inaugurated Information Centre for Armament Technology (ICAT) at Armament

Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune on 27 October 2015. ICAT will provide vast reading space in an

ambient air-conditioned environment. Its two floors comprise technical discussion room, study carrels for independent research studies, huge halls for exhibitions and extension activities, and an interactive global digital classroom.

Raksha Mantri inaugurates Universal Pilot Plant at HEMRL

Raksha Mantri Shri Manohar Parrikar inaugurated the Universal Pilot Plant (UPP) at High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune, on 19 November

2015. Dr S Christopher, Secretary Department of Defence R&D

and DG, DRDO, was also present on the occasion. UPP Facility is a state-of-the-art environment friendly chemical pilot plant used for the development of advanced high energy materials required for various armament and missile systems.

5www.drdo.gov.in ANNiveRSARy iSSue 2016

DRDO NewSleTTeRJANUARY 2016


FEbRUARY 2016

DRDO showcased Defence Technologies in Indian Science Congress

DRDO showcased its indigenous defence systems developed in the Pride of India Exhibition held on the sidelines of the 103rd Indian Science

Congress held during 3-8 January 2016 at Mysuru. The theme of the Exhibition this year was ‘S&T for Indigenous Development in India’.

Dr Harsh Vardhan, Hon’ble Union Minister of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, inaugurated the DRDO Pavilion and appreciated the contributions made by DRDO in defence technologies.

DESIDOC participates in World Book FairIn its endeavour of promoting and popularizing science among civil

society Defence Scientific Information and Documentation Centre (DESIDOC), Delhi, participated in the World Book Fair held during

9-17 January 2016 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. DESIDOC showcased scientific journals, monographs, newsletters and its other scientific publications, both in English and Hindi. DESIDOC’s stall attracted a large number of visitors, especially students, who showed keen interest in DRDO technologies covered in these publications.

DLJ signs ToT for Cam and IRR PaintsDr SR Vadera, OS and Director, Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur

(DLJ) and Shri Ashish Mathur, Partner, Marudhar Paints and Polymers, Jodhpur, signed Licensing Agreement for Transfer

of Technology (LATOT) and confidentiality and non-disclosure agreement (CNDA) for Camouflage Infra Red Reflective (Cam and IRR) Paints. Dr N Kumar, former Director DLJ, who pioneered this technology, was also present on this occasion. The Cam and IRR Paints camouflage military targets in visible and near IR regions and will replace commercially available paints.

Cam and IRR Paints are superior to conventional paints since these provide camouflage in addition to surface protection and durability. The paints are specially designed for low gloss and colour matching with the natural terrain elements such as sand and vegetation and blend better with the surroundings when seen through various sensors.

Dr S Christopher, Secretary Department of Defence R&D and DG DRDO inaugurated

Air Independent Propulsion System (AIP) workshop for submarines in Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL), Ambernath, on 3 January 2016. AIP is a power plant consisting of Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell (PAFC) along with an online Hydrogen Generation System, Power Conditioner, Liquid Oxygen (LOX) Storage and Delivery System, Thermal Management System, and other auxiliary systems for smooth operations of the plant.

The workshop has facilities to test all the sub- systems of AIP in a simulated hull section of submarine in integrated form and will cater to prove and qualify all the AIP

sub-systems as land- based prototype. Dr Chrisotpher congratulated the team for the achievement and encouraged them to take up bigger challenges. Raja Ramanna Fellow Dr J Narayana Das;

Dr SC Sati, OS and DG (NS&M); Shri A Rahman, OS and CC (TM); senior officers from L&T and Thermax, the industry partners of the AIP project, also graced this occasion. Dr SB Singh, OS and Director, NMRL, gave a brief about the facility. Dr Christopher also planted a sapling and addressed all the employees of NMRL.

Dr S Christopher also inaugurated Linear Accelerator Facility (LINAC) for non-destructive testing of intermediated finished and assembled products in Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Chandigarh. Dr Satish Kumar, DS and DG (MSS) and Dr Manjit Singh, OS and Director, TBRL, were also present on the occasion.

The newly established LINAC facility will cater the prerequisites of design and development of various warhead systems and the systems required for static trials for R&D applications.

Dr Christopher inaugurates AIP Workshop at NMRL & Linear Accelerator Facility at TBRL

DRDO NewSleTTeRFEbRUARY 2016


8 www.drdo.gov.inAnniversAry issue 2016

Test Firing of New Tank Ammunition for MBT ArjunTest Firing of New Tank Ammunition for MBT Arjun

DRDO successfully conducted test firing of new tank ammunition Penetration-cum-Blast (PCB) and

Thermobaric (TB) Ammunition, specially designed for Arjun Tank at Chandipur, Odisha, on 6 January 2016. The trials were very effective and the damage was devastating with the firing of ammunition successfully destroying the target tank and severely damaging its turret, barrel,

tracks, ammunition bin, various sights, antennas, etc. Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL),the Pune-based DRDO laboratories, have developed the ammunitions.

The trials were conducted jointly with Army and were aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the ammunitions on

derelict tank fitted with instrumentation to measure the shocks, blast pressure and temperature at various locations and on advanced imaging systems. The trials were unique as for the first time such evaluation was carried out in India. The ammunition will give a quantum jump to the firepower of Arjun tank.

DRDO-Industry Meet on Next Generation Protective EnsembleA DRDO-Industry Meet was organized by Defence Bioengineering

and Electromedical Laboratory (DEBEL), Bengaluru, on 8 January 2016 to evolve qualitative requirements for the

development of comfortable next generation protective ensemble for protection against chemical and biological (CB) agents by bringing together all the stakeholders from Services, DRDO, Research Associations and most importantly the Industry.

Three sessions, dedicated to DRDO/Academia, Textile and Rubber Research Associations, and Industry were conducted in which more than hundred participants from academia, research institutes and industries participated. The meet captured the capability and shared the experience of various stakeholders to define the roadmap for NGPE.

MARch 2016


Indian Navy showcased Biodiesel Patrolling BoatsIndian Navy showcased Biodiesel Patrolling Boats

ApRil 2016 DRDO NewSleTTeR

Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS), Hyderabad, has developed and successfully tested a single-board High Speed Tracker Module (HSTM) incorporating field-programmable gate array (FPGA) and

digital signal processor (DSP).The system acquires images from a high frame rate camera (>1000 fps), pixel

size 512 x512, using CAMLINK interface, computes the centroid of the distant target and tracks the target, and controls a two-axis Fast Steering Mirror (closed loop bandwidth ~400 Hz) for precisely maintaining the laser beam spot onto the target centroid during the period of illumination. Single frame latency and Jitter correction of 95 per cent, 90 per cent and 80 per cent has been achieved for 10 Hz, 20 Hz and 30 Hz jitter frequencies and ± 0.3 µrad jitter amplitude, respectively under lab simulation conditions. The system would provide improved compensation of atmospheric effects on laser beam propagation in comparison to the commercial NI-based system being used presently.

During the recently held International Fleet Review (IFR) 2016 at Visakhapatnam, patrolling boats named Fast Interceptor Crafts (FICs), in the presidential

column were run on B20 blend of biodiesel. These FICs, running on biodiesel, bears two green coloured bands, and are called ‘Green Strike Force’. DRDO’s Defence Institute of Bio-Energy Research (DIBER), Haldwani, has produced the biodiesel at its Project Site Secunderabad. DIBER was also the part of ‘Clean Initiatives Pavilion’ of Indian Navy in maritime exhibition during IFR 2016. Admiral RK Dhowan,

Chief of the Naval Staff and Vice Admiral Ashok Subhedar, Chief of the Material, appreciated the joint efforts of Indian Navy and DIBER.

DIBER’s stall was visited by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi who was accompanied by Raksha Mantri Shri Manohar Parrikar, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Shri N Chandrababu Naidu, Hon’ble Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Rao Inderjit Singh, Chief of the Army Staff General Dalbir Singh, and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral RK Dhowan.

CHESS develops High Speed Tracker Module for Directed Energy Laser System


ApRil 2016

National Science Day celebration at DRDO

ARDE establishes state-of-the-art Fixed Firing Stand Facility

Defence Science Forum, Delhi, organized DRDO National Science Day Oration on the ‘Renewal Energy

Roadmap—R&D Issues’ by Shri Upendra Tripathy, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewal Energy, Government of India, at DRDO HQ. Shri Tripathy brought out India’s aspiration and plans of utilising the renewable sources of energy. He also appreciated spin-off benefits of DRDO’s technologies.

Dr S Christopher, Secretary, DDR&D and DG, DRDO, presided over the function and encouraged young scientists to think out of the box and pursue the path of Raman and Ramanujam to be successful.

Ar m a m e n t Research and D e v e l o p m e n t

E s t a b l i s h m e n t (ARDE), Pune, has successfully designed, developed and commissioned a state-of-the-art facility in the form of a fixed firing stand, which will pave the way for generating experimental data and qualifying the sub-systems for final realisation of the 155 mm/52 calibre Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS).

The first dynamic firing of the integrated ATAGS Ordnance and Recoil System on the Fixed Firing Stand was conducted at Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE), Balasore, during 19-20 February 2016. The results of the

trials have established the successful design and manufacturing of the ATAGS Ordnance and Recoil System. ATAGS is a major complex weapon system consisting of several sub-systems such as Gun Structural System, Ordnance and Recoil, Ballistics, Automation and Control,

Automotive System, Sighting System and C4I.

ARDE is the lead system integrator of the gun system being developed in collaboration with several industrial partners, PSUs, OFB and sister DRDO labs, viz., Vehicles Research and Development E s t a b l i s h m e n t , A h m e d n a g a r ; Instruments Research and Development E s t a b l i s h m e n t , Dehradun; Centre

for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Bengaluru; Defence Electronics Applications Laboratory, Dehradun; Proof and Experimental Establishment, Chandipur and Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory, Hyderabad.

DRDO newsletteR


International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on 8th March every year to commemorate the achievements

of women past, present and future. DRDO celebrated IWD 2016 at Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), one of the DRDO’s laboratory at Visakhapatnam. A workshop on Scientific Women and DRDO—

Harnessing Research and Management SWADHARM-2016” was organised to mark the occasion. Dr S Christopher, Secretary Department of Defence R&D and DG DRDO was the Chief Guest of the inaugural function.

The workshop comprised Invited Talks by Dr Gayatri Sankaran, the first visually-challenged musician to receive

Padma Shri, by Ms Shiela Sri Prakash, the first Indian Architect to serve on the World Economic Forum, and by Ms Ranjana Kumar, former Chairperson NABARD and Indian Bank. The talks were followed by Panel discussions and technical paper presentation.

DRDO celebrates International Women’s Day

ApRil 2016


MAY 2016

DRDO brings alive Spirit of Make In India at DEFEXPO 2016The display of state-of-the-art military systems and

technologies by DRDO narrated the saga of self-reliance and national pride with “Make in India”

spirit in the 9th edition of the biennial Land, Naval and Internal Homeland Security Systems Exhibition in Defence Expo 2016 during 28-31 March 2016 at Goa. Hon’ble Raksha Mantri Shri Manohar Parrikar inaugurated the exhibition.

Focusing on ‘Make in India’ and ‘Self-Reliance’, DRDO provided a platform for collaboration with industry and academia. DRDO amply demonstrated its capability to design, develop and realize highly complex multidisciplinary weapon platforms for Army, Navy and Air force. These systems are among the most extensively evaluated systems in harsh environmental conditions, meeting stringent quality requirements of our services.

Dr S Christopher, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and DG DRDO emphasized DRDO’s commitment towards ‘Make in India’ to provide state-of-the-art technologies and products to the Armed Forces.

Raksha Mantri flags off Indigenous Composite Sonar DomeRaksha Mantri Shri Manohar Parrikar flagged off

first indigenous composite sonar dome during DEFEXPO 2016. Dr S Christopher, Secretary,

Department of Defence R&D and DG DRDO; Vice Admiral P Murgesan, Vice Chief of Naval Staff; Dr S Guru Prasad, Chief Controller R&D (PC&SI) and Rear Admiral (Retd) RK Shrawat, CMD, MDL were present on the occasion.

The sonar dome has been designed by Research and Development Establishment (Engrs) [R&DE (E)], a Pune-based DRDO laboratory, and manufactured by composites manufacturing company M/s Kineco Ltd, Pilerne, Goa. India joins a select group of nations with capability of realizing large composites structure with multi-functional requirements, complex geometry and high structural rigidity with acoustic transparency. The dome was actualized using Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM) Process technology with built-in process monitoring capability, developed by R&DE (E), to ensure manufacture of quality product.

DRDO newsletteR


Hon’ble Raksha Mantri Shri Manohar Parrikar released Brahmand World Defence

Update 2016, a publication of BrahMos Aerospace, at DEFEXPO India.

The yearbook provides a comprehensive assessment of the

present day global military order with a focus on each Nation’s Military capabilities, new arms acquisitions and defence spending of 113 countries along with detailed strategic information on 33 leading countries.

The book, in its latest issue, has

attempted to provide an exclusive overview of such trends by incorporating special segment on Land Warfare Systems of Brazil, China, France, India, Russia and USA; which is set to influence the battlefields of tomorrow in a major way.

MAY 2016

Shri Parrikar releases Brahmand World Defence Update Yearbook


JUNE 2016

LCA Tejas Real Time Simulator (RTS) has been upgraded to a full mission simulator. The formal assessment of upgraded RTS was carried out by National Flight Test Centre

(NFTC) in co-ordination with IAF-Programme Management Team (IAF-PMT), ADA, and Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC). Fully configured upgraded RTS is ready for training and will be offered to IAF-PMT to provide training to the squadron pilots. Dr K Tamilmani, DG (Aero), DRDO, handed over the relevant documents to Director ADE and Air Marshal Rajesh Kumar, VM, Director IAF-PMT, and declared the readiness of LCA Tejas RTS for formal training of IAF pilots. The simulator would be extensively used for training of IAF pilots on basic missions of LCA-AF Mk-I.

Tejas Real Time Simulator ready for formal Training

A 100 kN thermal assisted Friction Stir Welding Machine was inaugurated at Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL),

Ambernath. The machine is a Make in India initiative and is jointly designed and developed by NMRL and RV Machine Tools, Coimbatore.

The facility will be used for welding wide range of both ferrous and non-ferrous alloys for Naval, Aerospace and Defence applications like torpedo shell, rocket motor casing, missile nose cone and body, ship, aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicle structural portions.

Thermal Assisted Friction Stir Welding Machine established at NMRL

Indian Army test fired Akash surface-to-air missiles successfully with the inducted Akash Weapon

System during 11-13 April 2016 as a part of conversion firings (post induction) from Interim Test Range (ITR), Chandipur. Six Akash missiles

were tested on six moving and tow-body targets. All the six targets were comprehensively brought down under the influence of warhead detonation in proximity. The velocity of missiles at intercept of targets was above Mach 2.1.

The missiles were picked up from regular production lots by the Missile System Quality Assurance Agency (MSQAA) and all the operations were carried out by Indian Army personnel as per the combat configurations.

Indian Army successfully test fires Akash Missiles

DRDO newsletteR


JUlY 2016

DIPAS organises Yoga Training for Defence Wing Staff

Raksha Mantri releases Compendium of Granted & Active Patents to DRDOHon’ble Raksha Mantri Shri

Manohar Parrikar released the Compendium of Granted

and Active Patents of DRDO during 8th Convocation of Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), an autonomous deemed university under DRDO at Pune.

The Compendium is a culmination of DRDO’s consistent efforts towards IP generation and also a testimony to the innovation skills of its scientific communities. The Compendium, comprising entire bibliographic information including abstracts of all granted and active patents of DRDO till 1 January 2016 will not only serve as a ready reference for the scientists as well as potential licensees, but also work as a catalyst for spurring innovations.

Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS), Delhi, conducted a yoga training

programme for Defence Wing Staff during 25-30 April 2016 in collaboration with HQ Integrated Defence Staff and Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN). Lt General Velu Nair, AVSM, VSM, DCIDS (Medical) inaugurated the programme as the Chief Guest. Dr IN Acharya, Director, CCRYN was the Guest of Honour. Lt General Nair, spoke about the benefits of regular yoga practice and its therapeutic effects.

The invited lectures were delivered by yoga experts from Times of India, AIIMS Delhi, Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, Delhi, CCRYN AYUSH Wellness Clinic, Delhi, talked about

basic principles and physiology of shatkarma and yogasanas. Thirty-five participants from IHQ MoD (Army),

Def Wing staff, IHQ MoD (Navy) and Air Headquarter (VB) participated in the training programme.


The National Research Development Corporation (NRDC), under Ministry of Science and Technology,

entered into a license agreement with M/s Ramashree Chemicals Pvt Ltd, Bhopal, for commercialisation of “Test Kit for Microbiological Quality of Drinking

Water” developed by Defence

Research and Development Establishment (DRDE), Gwalior. The kit is used for detection of H2S producing organism in drinking water, which are present along with coliforms. The initiative of NRDC aids the “Make in India” Mission of the Government of India.

The company plans to take this technology across the country through a network of dealers. The kit has been licensed to more than 20 companies in India so far and is useful to ascertain the quality of drinking water especially in developing countries.

National Technology Day (NTD) organised by the Defence Science Forum at Bhagavantham Auditorium, Metcalfe House, Delhi, with scientific fervour. The occasion

also marked NTD Oration on “Role of Science Education and Technology for Make in India: Challenges” by Prof. VK Singh, eminent scientist (Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Awardee) and Director, Indian Institute of Science Education and

Research (IISER), Bhopal. Prof. Singh highlighted the glorious achievements of Indian science and technology.

DRDO Technology Spectrum, a compendium of NTD Orations delivered by DRDO scientists at their respective labs/estts, brought out by Defence Scientific Information and Documentation Centre (DESIDOC), Delhi, was also released on the occasion.

DRDO celebrates National Technology Day

License agreement for Commercialisation of Microbiological Quality Test Kit

JUlY 2016

DRDO newsletteR


The Indian Air Force (IAF) inducted two indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft Tejas into its ‘45th Squadron’ on 1 July 2016 at a ceremony preceded

by inter-faith prayers at the Aircraft System Testing Establishment, Bengaluru. T Suvarna Raju, Chairman, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), handed over the certified documents of the indigenous fighter to Air Marshal Jasbir Walia, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command. Tejas is a fourth-generation plus, lightweight, multi-role supersonic single-engine aircraft designed and

developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in collaboration with India’s largest defence PSU, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

Hon’ble Raksha Mantri Shri Manohar Parrikar congratulated the induction of the Tejas and described the plane a force multiplier.

Dr S Christopher, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and DG ADA lauded the ‘Team Tejas’ and said, “The team is proud that an idea in late 1980s is today turning into a reality of having our own fighter aircraft.

Tejas inducted into Indian Air Force

AUgUsT 2016 DRDO NewSleTTeR


AUgUsT 2016

Shri Manohar Parrikar, Hon’ble Raksha Mantri, handed over “Varunastra”—a ship launched heavy-weight torpedo, also known

as underwater missile to the Indian Navy in a befitting ceremony on 29 June 2016.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Manohar Parrikar congratulated DRDO for the. He asked DRDO to ensure its participation in the production process and to keep adequate quality control of their products so that it can meet the international standards. The Minister also stated that in these high technology areas, DRDO’s contribution with 95 per cent of indigenous content is an apt example of Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured (IDDM) category.

Varunastra has been developed by Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam. Bharat Dynamics Ltd has been associated as a production partner in concurrent engineering mode.

RM Hands Over Varunastra to Indian Navy

MRSAM Test Fired SuccessfullyMedium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) was

successfully tested from the Integrated Test Range off Odisha Coast on 30 June 2016 and 1 July 2016.

The missile guided by a radar system and on-board avionics successfully hit the designated targets in all its three missions.

The MRSAM is jointly developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Israel, for the Indian Air Force. Many DRDO laboratories, and public and private industries have significantly contributed to the development of various sub- systems, which were put into use in these flight tests. Both, Indian and Israel teams participated in the launch campaign.

Hon’ble President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee congratulated DRDO on the successful test-firing of the Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile. In a congratulatory message to the Secretary DDR&D, the President said, “I extend hearty congratulations to all those associated with the successful test-firing of the Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM), developed jointly with Israel. The nation is proud of the achievement made by the DRDO and looks upon DRDO to make even greater efforts to boost India’s indigenous defence capabilities in technologically challenging areas. Kindly convey my greetings and felicitations to the members

of your team of scientists, engineers, and all others involved in this mission. Our nation is grateful for their hard work and proud of their achievement.”

DRDO achieved yet another technological breakthrough by successfully conducting the proof firing of Armament system for 155 mm x 52

calibre Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS at Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE), Balasore. Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune, is the nodal laboratory for design and development of ATAGS along with other DRDO laboratories.

The development trajectory of ATAGS aims at establishing indigenous defence manufacturing technologies with the active participation of Ordnance Factories, DPSUs and Private industries including Bharat Forge Limited, Tata Power Strategic Engineering Division and Mahindra Defence Naval System to meet the aspiration of Make in India initiative in defence sector.

Shri Manohar Parrikar, Hon’ble Raksha Mantri, launched the “Test-o-Milk Kit“ developed by Defence Food

Research Laboratory (DFRL), Mysuru, to Mumbaibased Pearl Corporation during the 8th Convocation Ceremony of Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), Pune, on 31 May 2016. The easy-to-use kit, first of kinds in India, helps in finding out adulteration of urea, starch, boric acid, soap/ detergent, neutraliser, hydrogen peroxide, etc., in the milk.

DRDO embarked Major Success in Advanced Artillery Gun System

RM launches Test-o-Milk Kit


DRDO NewSleTTeRAUgUsT 2016

VRDE Hands Over Rotary Engine to ADEThe indigenous Rotary Engine, designed and developed by Vehicles Research

and Development Establishment (VRDE), Ahmednagar, was handed over to Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bengaluru, for their

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Nishant and Wheeled Version ‘Panchhi’ projects.


Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL), Mysuru, signed MoU for Transfer of Retort Processed Ready-to-Eat Food (RTE) Technology with Indian Railway

Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) for providing safe and nutritious food to passengers of Indian Railway. Dr RK Sharma, Director, DFRL and Dr AK Manocha, Chairman and Managing Director, IRCTC, signed the agreements.

DFRL also transferred the innovative technologies for preparing ‘Instant Idli-Sambhar, Upma and Coconut Chutney’ to M/s Brahmins Foods India Pvt Ltd, Thodupuzha, Kerala. Dr RK Sharma, exchanged the Transfer of Technology documents with Shri Sreenath Vishnu, Executive Director, M/s Brahmins Foods India Pvt Ltd.

DFRL transfers Food Technologies

Heralding a new era of DRDO-Academia partnership, DRDO signed a Memorandum of Understanding

(MoU) with Jadavpur University (JU), Kolkata, to establish Jagadish Chandra Bose Centre for Advanced Technology (JCBCAT).

Dr S Christopher, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and DG DRDO laid the foundation of the JBCAT at the university campus and called for focused research and development at the centre. “Novelty in production needs to be designed keeping in mind constraints of time, cost and space”, he said.

Secretary DDR&D lays Foundation of JCB Centre for Advanced Technology

DRDO establishes Centre of Propulsion Technology at IIT Bombay and Madras

AUgUsT 2016

DRDO signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA)

with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay and IIT Madras to establish a bi-nodal ‘Centre of Propulsion Technology’ (CoPT) at the two institutions. Dr S Christopher, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and DG DRDO, signed the MoA with Prof. Devang Khakhar, Director, IIT Bombay and Prof. B Ramamurthi, Director, IIT Madras.

CoPT, as the main Centre of Propulsion Technology, will help in collaborative research in the critical

defence technology areas with IIT Bombay, IIT Madras and other research institutions/centres.

The Centre will facilitate and undertake multidisciplinary directed basic and applied research in the focused areas of: Futuristic aero-engines, hypersonic propulsion for long duration flight, solid propellant combustion modelling, morphing aircraft including its propulsion and associated technologies

addressing the emerging defence and security needs.

DRDO newsletteR


sEpTEMbER 2016

DRDO showcased Indigenous Defence Products & Technologies in Parliament

developed by DRDO was displayed in the exhibition. A virtual reality display of Arjun, BrahMos, AEW&C System and LCA Tejas was also organised.

DRDO and its network of 52 dedicated laboratories all across the country have been engaged in developing critical defence technologies covering a wide array of disciplines.

DRDO organised an exclusive exhibition in the Parliament premises to showcase various

Defence products and technologies developed indigenously in India. Hon’ble Lok Sabha Speaker Smt Sumitra Mahajan inaugurated the three-day event on 3 August 2016 at Parliament Library Building. Hon’ble Raksha Mantri Shri

Manohar Parrikar and Deputy Speaker M Thambi Durai also attended the inaugural event.

The aim of the exhibition was to provide the members of Parliament a first hand account of the mammoth amount of work undertaken by the DRDO. A number of state-of-the-art defence technologies, products and systems


To commemorate the first death anniversary of former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, DRDO,

with which Dr Kalam had a long association as Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and DG DRDO, organised a grand function at Peikarumbu in Ramaeswaram, Tamil Nadu, on 26 July 2016. Foundation stone for a National

Memorial was laid unveiling his life-size statue and a 3-D model of the memorial during the function by the Union Minister for Urban Development and Information and Broadcasting Shri M Venkaiah Naidu and Raksha Mantri Shri Manohar Parrikar.

An exhibition named “Mission of Life” depicting the life of Dr Kalam

and his achievements towards nation building was also a part of the event. A host of dignitaries including Ministers of the Government of Tamil Nadu and local Member of Parliament were present on the occasion. A large number of school and college students also gathered to pay tribute to Dr Kalam at his burial site.

MoD commemorates Ist Death Anniversary of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam

sEpTEMbER 2016

DRDO newsletteR


India successfully flight tested the long-range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM) system for Indian Navy

twice against Pilotless Target Aircraft (PTA) on 20 September 2016 and again on 21 September 2016 from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Balasore, Odisha. The LRSAM has been developed through a joint venture between India’s premier defence research organization DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) of Israel.

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee congratulated DRDO on the successful test firing of the missile. In a message dated 30 September 2016 to Dr S Christopher, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and DG DRDO, the President said, “I extend hearty congratulations to you and all those associated with the successful test-firing of the surface-to-air missile–‘Barak-8’ developed jointly with Israel. The nation is proud of this achievement. I am sure that this success will further boost India’s defence capabilities in technologically challenging areas. Kindly convey my

OcTObER 2016

India successfully Flight Tests Long-Range SAM

Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL), Mysuru, transferred the state-of-the-art technologies of ‘flax oat bar, ergogenic bar, omega-3 rich bar, composite

cereal bar and high energy bar’ to M/s Nature Essential Foods Pvt Ltd, Mumbai. DFRL has developed different types of nutritious energy bars to cater to the requirement of Armed Forces stationed at desert and high altitude. Each bar is targeted with a specific functional ingredient with a calorific value ranging from 400 K Cal to 540 K Cal with self-life of 6-15 months with good organoleptic acceptance as compared to the bars available in the market with limited shelf-life of 4-6 months.

DFRL also transferred the state-of-the-art technology of Aloe Pineapple-based Performance Enhancing Drink to M/s Arboreal Agro Innovations Pvt Ltd, Jabalpur.

ToT of Ready-to-Eat Bars & Performance Enhancement Drink Technology

greetings and felicitations to all members of the team of scientists, engineers, and others involved in this Mission.”

Many Indian defence PSUs and industries have contributed towards the development of the missile system.


NOvEMbER 2016

Anti-tank Nag Missile System demonstrated SuccessfulNag, the third generation, lock-on-before-launch

(LOBL), fire-and-forget, anti-tank guided missile, indigenously developed by the Defence Research

and Development Laboratory, Hyderabad, scored a “bull’s eye” successfully hitting targets up to 4 km away in the final developmental trials. The Thermal Target System (TTS) was used as target for the missile. TTS simulated a target similar to an operational T-72 tank. For the flight test, a T-72 tank was moved for one hour and positioned at a range of 3.2 km. Thermal mapping from tank to TTS was carried out for generating thermal signature.

NAG has ‘Top attack’ and ‘Front Attack’ capabilities. It is capable of defeating the heaviest type of armour including ‘reactive’ and ‘composite’ armour of the futuristic main battle tanks.

Critical technologies indigenously developed for NAG Missile System include a high resolution IIR Seeker developed by RCI, Hyderabad. The performance of the Seeker is well established in guided flight tests of NAG.

The second trial validated the enhanced 4-km range capability of IIR seeker, which guides the missile to the target after its launch.

NAG, which has been developed to support both mechanised infantry and airborne forces of the Indian Army, is designed to destroy modern main battle tanks and other heavily armoured targets. It can be launched from both land and air-based platforms.

Technologies for ‘Tandem Warhead’, ‘Control System’ and ‘Solid Propulsion System’ for NAG have been successfully developed by ARDE, Pune, RCI and ASL, Hyderabad. NAG Missile Carrier (NAMICA) is BMP2 based Infantry Combat Vehicle (ICV) suitably configured for firing ‘NAG’ Missile. NAMICA is an advanced system developed by DRDO.

The development trials were conducted with an objective of proving higher range capability of high resolution IIR seeker. NAG Weapon System is ready for induction into Indian Army.

DRDO newsletteR


T he state-of-the-art military pilot seat ejection parachutes developed by DRDO’s Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra, proved their

utility to the Indian Air Force when on 10 September 2016 a MiG-21 fighter jet of the IAF that had taken off from Uttarlai Air Force Station crashed near Barmer, Rajasthan. However, both pilots ejected safely using the seat ejection parachute systems. ADRDE has developed and substituted imported seat ejection parachute system for Russian Fighter Aircraft of the MIG series & SU-30 and for Western Aircraft like Jaguar, Mirage-2000 & Hawk.

On 20 September 2016, a MiG-21 jet of the IAF overshot the runway at Srinagar Air Force Station. Once again, the pilots ejected out safely using ADRDE Seat Ejection Parachutes. Not just the pilots, the Arrester Barrier System developed by ADRDE also saved the aircraft in this incident. The Arrester Barrier System is installed at both ends of the runway and is used for stopping forward momentum of the aircraft in case of an emergency during landing overrun or an aborted take-off. ADRDE has developed two types of Arrester Barriers (20 Ton class and 40 Ton Class) and have installed 42 systems of 20 Ton class and eight of 40 Ton Class Arrester barriers at various Air Force stations.

ADM Warhead for PINAKA Clears Trial

DEcEMbER 2016

ADRDE Seat Ejection Parachutes & Arrestor Barriers boon for the IAF

DRDO’s Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), the nodal laboratory

for design and development of PINAKA Multi Barrel Rocket System, conducted a series of user evaluation trials of one type of Area Denial Munition (ADM) warhead at Pokhran Field Firing Ranges. The trials were jointly conducted by Army and Directorate General Quality Assurance.

PINAKA—a multi barrel rocket launching system capable of neutralizing targets up to a range of 39 km with different types of warheads—has been inducted in the Indian Army with two variants of warheads currently under production. This ADM warhead is capable of providing devastating effect on a variety of targets such as tanks, class B vehicles, mobile launchers, infantry formations, etc. Each warhead is capable of neutralizing an area of more than

10,000 square meters. Induction of this ADM Warhead into existing PINAKA system will boost the firepower.

The war-head is jointly designed and developed by two premier Pune-

based DRDO laboratories namely, Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL).

DRDO NewSleTTeRDEcEMbER 2016

Navy Inducts indigenous Sonars

Heralding a new era in the indigenous development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV),

DRDO successfully carried out the maiden flight of TAPAS 201 (Rustom–II), a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV. The test flight took place

Raksha Mantri Shri Manohar Parrikar handed over four types of indigenous sonars developed by DRDO to Admiral Sunil Lanba,

Chief of the Naval Staff, on 18 November 2016. Dr S Christopher, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO, was present on the occasion. The systems have been designed and developed by NPOL, a Kochi-based DRDO laboratory.

The indigenous systems, which included Abhay—compact hull mounted sonar for shallow water crafts, Upgrade for the Humsa sonar system (Humsa UG) , Near-field Acoustic Characterisation System (NACS), and Advanced Indigenous Distress Sonar System for Submarines (AIDSS), will boost the underwater surveillance capability of the Navy. Raksha Mantri praised the Navy and DRDO and said he expects more synergy in the coming days.

RUSTOM-II Successfully Completes Maiden Flight

from Aeronautical Test Range (ATR), Chitradurga, a newly developed flight test range for the testing of UAVs and manned aircraft, 250 km from Bengaluru.

The flight accomplished the main objectives of proving the flying platform,

such as take off, bank, level flight and landing etc.

TAPAS 201, has been designed and developed by Bengaluru-based Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) with HAL-BEL as the production partners


DRDO NewSleTTeR


Defence Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR), a Delhi-based laboratory of DRDO hosted

the 58th Conference of International Military Testing Association (IMTA)

DRDO signs MoU with IIT Delhi to Establish JATC

DRDO hosts 58th Conference of IMTA

DEcEMbER 2016

DRDO signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Institute of Technology

(IIT), Delhi, to establish a Joint Advanced Technology Centre (JATC). The centre will be located in the campus of IIT Delhi at the upcoming Science and Technology Park (Mini Science Park).Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr S Christopher, signed the MoU with the Director IIT Delhi Prof. V Ramgopal Rao.

The JATC will enable Directed, Basic and Applied Research and will engage with premier research institutes through multi-institutional collaboration.

in New Delhi from 8 November 2016. The four-day long conference was held in India for the first time and was inaugurated by the Minister of State for Defence Dr Subhash Bhamre.

Dr S Christopher Secretary, DDR&D & Chairman DRDO and Ms Susan Truscott, Chair of the IMTA & Director General Military Personnel Research & Analysis, Canada also attended the conference.

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