DRDO, PSU and Private Defence Sector News

[Singh]

Army Vice Chief stresses DRDO role

Pune Increasing threats to the nation had made the role of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) important, and there was a need for more trust between the tri-services and the DRDO, according to Army Vice Chief Lt Gen Noble Thamburaj.

“At a time the nation is facing threats that are dynamic and challenging in nature, the Armed Forces are becoming heavily dependent on the DRDO and its affiliates,” he said.

Speaking as the chief guest at a function at the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), he said, “The need for increased partnership among organisations under the DRDO, the armed forces and the academia cannot be over-emphasised.” The way forward is to have a “genuine, seamless interface,” Thamburaj said, adding there should be more trust between the tri-services and the DRDO.

He also stressed the need for indigenous technology. “We should develop state-of-the-art equipment and not depend on other countries. I would rather lose using Indian weapons than win using those made in other countries. At the same time, we cannot afford to be left behind in wars of the future.”

Elaborating, he said rapid technological advancements had led to a revolution in military affairs that was driven by “the good work of scientists at the DRDO and its affiliates.”

“A democracy such as ours is a soft target for terrorists, and the terrorist of today is difficult to identify or understand. They are often non-state actors — wicked people with no ideology and are anti-mankind. They are not supported by anyone, but sometimes financed by equally warped, wealthy people who indulge in killing innocent people. A soldier fights a soldier, not innocent civilians. Thus, owing to the fear and reality of collateral damage, the armed forces are often hampered when taking on these anti-social elements, he said.

Elaborating on the 21st century warfare, Thamburaj said it would be very different and would constantly change and therefore it was imperative to perceive the future.

“Wars have been lost by armies because they prepared as they did for the last war they fought, not one that will be fought in future,” he said. In future, conflicts will be heavily based on technology such as surveillance and a soldier may not come in direct contact with the enemy, he said.

Earlier, he inaugurated a two-day exhibition on armament products and technologies at the HEMRL, to showcase an array of systems and technologies from various DRDO labs as well as private industry. The defence equipment on display includes the Pinaka missile, Akash missile, 84-mm lightweight launcher and explosive detection kits.

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/army-vice-chief-stresses-drdo-role/430004/

 

[nitesh]

http://deccanherald.com/Content/Mar92009/national20090308122857.asp

Indigenous LCA engine ready for maiden trial
DH News Service, New Delhi:

After two decades of copious criticism from every quarter, the indigenous Kaveri engine is ready for its maiden flight trial in 2010.


“We have completed all ground testing for the full engine and individual components. The first flight (in a light combat aircraft) is expected in early 2010,” T Mohana Rao, director of the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), Bangalore, which is developing the engine, told Deccan Herald.

Way back in 1986, the Defence Ministry wanted to develop an indigenous gas turbine engine for the indigenous fighter, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), which just got off from the drawing board.

The decision led to the Kaveri programme, which was sanctioned in 1989 with an initial funding support of Rs 382.81 crore.

Clueless scientists

But over the years, Kaveri exemplified everything that is wrong with Indian defence research.

There was serious time and cost overrun and the programme was unable to meet many of its stated objectives. Many government and Parliamentary committees blamed the GTRE and the DRDO for India’s failure to have an indigenous engine for the fighter planes in time despite promises.

On the eve of the flight trial, Rao said when they were assigned the critical task they had no clue about the difficulties and were literally groping in the dark.

“We were thoroughly mistaken about the time. No one guided us. We were in dark along with our countrymen,” the GTRE chief admitted.

Rao confessed that there were flaws in the planning process when the project was conceived.

“We were over-optimistic that in six to eight years time, we will be able to make a gas turbine engine from scratch. But it was a myth,” he said.

Almost for the first seventeen years, GTRE scientists had to work in isolation as there was hardly any outside consultation with other engine manufacturers. “We just had some hunch. Consultation started since the last three years,” he said.

There was no test facility in India because of which the engine had to be sent abroad every time for test, further increasing the development time. The centre has so far sanctioned Rs 2080 crore for Kaveri. This, according to Rao, is one-fifth of what other nations have spent on developing similar gas turbine engines.

When the Kaveri programme was sanctioned in 1989, technical specifications were drawn out on the basis of a theoretical concept of the LCA. With the evolution of the LCA design, changes in the engine specifications were necessitated. Till date, GTRE made eight full engines and four core engines which do not have the low-pressure components and some other machinery.

Three cores and one full engine underwent testing in simulated conditions. In the next couple of months, full altitude testing in simulated conditions would be carried out to ensure that the engine can fire between 0-8 km altitudes.

This will be followed by the flight trial in another few months.

 

[nitesh]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...-lines-of-global-labs/articleshow/4251712.cms

DRDO rejig likely on lines of global labs
11 Mar 2009, 0215 hrs IST, Pankaj Mishra, ET Bureau

BANGALORE: India will attempt to transform its Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) over the next three years by consolidating around 50 research labs into fewer centres and moving towards more collaborative development with private sector companies. The aim is to model DRDO on the lines of globally successful defence labs in countries like France, US, Britain and Israel.

“The government has given in-principle approval to form an implementation committee for restructuring DRDO based on the Rama Rao committee’s recommendations,” a defence ministry official said, requesting anonymity.

The implementation committee being constituted by the government will try and transform DRDO into a leaner organisation, and also consolidates its labs—numbering over 50 at present—to 7-8 centres focusing on broader segments of aeronautics, combat systems, naval systems, weapons systems and electronic warfare. Almost 20% of DRDO’s projects have budgets of over Rs 100 crore each.

“The proposal also includes a hike in budgetary allocation for DRDO, up to 6-10% of the defence budget,” the person added. The organisation now accounts for around 5% of the defence budget, estimated to be over Rs 6,000 crore every year. “Given that India has to import over Rs 40,000 crore worth of defence equipment every year, the scope for domestic research and production is huge,” a DRDO official said on conditions of anonymity.

The DRDO review committee, which submitted its report last year, was formed by the ministry of defence for evolving India’s premier defence labs into a more efficient organisation, following delays in various projects for serving critical needs of the armed forces. Former science and technology secretary P Rama Rao headed the review committee, which blamed inadequate project planning for time and cost overruns of DRDO projects.

With around $23.4-billion military spend in 2007, India is ranked 10th by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute in terms of defence expenditure. This year, the country is expected to spend over $30 billion in procuring latest equipment and systems for modernising its armed forces.

DRDO officials did not respond to an email query sent by ET last week. ET could not independently verify if the government has accepted all recommendations proposed by the review committee.

“There is surely a need to involve private sector more, and get people with newer ideas,” said Institute of Defence Scientists and Technologists chairman and former DRDO director K Ramchand. “We also need greater user involvement while developing some of these systems,” he added.

However, a senior defence official told ET on conditions of anonymity that DRDO’s problems need to be addressed through internal restructuring, more than anything else. “Private sector collaboration is fine, but what we need is more accountability, and even closer participation of the armed forces,” he said on Tuesday.

Several defence experts and this review committee have questioned DRDO’s ability to deliver critical projects in the recent past including the light combat aircraft (LCA), Arjun tanks, Akash surface-to-air missile and the Kaveri engine.

“The LCA project has been one of the big setbacks for the Indian Air Force. DRDO should bite what it can chew, without being over-enthusiastic,” observed a person familiar with the defence projects.

Governments across the globe have established successful private sector defence collaborations. For example, the Executive Intelligence Alliance Policy and Strategy (EIAPS) Charter forms the basis of engagement of government agencies and private partners in the UK. Experts such as TR Madan Mohan of consulting firm Browne and Mohan say there is a compelling need for DRDO to benchmark with the global best in order to become more efficient by establishing joint proof of concept centres (POC).

“Since multiple groups are involved in a POC, preliminary design and final design development and review, the bugs gets eliminated and probability of detecting failures in the early stage of design is increased,” Mr Mohan said. “Also, multiple parties, including private institutions and individuals, are able to bring in their expertise to the project.”

Meanwhile, an official said a public-private partnership model in India’s defence sector has been languishing because of political interferences.

 

[nitesh]

BEL: Network Centric Warfare Capabilities

Command and Control System solutions for the Army include the Artillery Command, Control and Communications System (ACCS), Battlefield Management System (BMS) and Tactical Communication System (TCS). These, along with the other Army products like Battle Field Surveillance Radar, Communication equipment for various applications and the Air Defence System, AKASH, will be on display.

For the Navy, BEL has developed the Combat Management System (CMS) and the ATM-based Shipboard Data Network (AISDN). These and the other Naval products like Composite Communication System (CCS) and Target Designator will be displayed.

The Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) is the major display for the Air Force. Various Airborne products like Radar Warning Receivers, Radar Finger Printing System and Data Link will also be showcased during the show.

 

[nitesh]

DRDO develops chemical to prevent growth of dengue mosquitoes

The approval of the ministry concerned has been sought and commercial production would begin once the clearance was given, Sekhar, who was here to participate in a workshop on Chemistry at the Bharathiar University, said.

 

[Triton]

Hindustan Aeronautics to set up new division

BANGALORE: The thrust on indigenisation of defence aerospace sector has prompted public sector undertakings like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to expand their R&D activities. In this regard, HAL will now set up another division in Bangalore which will be an addition to its existing five divisions in the city. The new ‘Mission and Combat System’ division will operate from the Bangalore-based Design Complex and will focus on R&D activities with regard to implementation of aircraft and avionics projects on hand and also those which will be undertaken by the defence PSU in future. Defence Ministry sources told Express that the new division will act as a lead agent to encourage and to assist other agencies apart from focusing on avionics systems integration and the use of smart avionics weapons systems.

“The focus will be on development and integration for the following -upgrading of existing fleet of aircraft, new aircraft programmes and also unmanned aerial vehicles technology development,” said sources. HAL has a number of aircraft upgrade projects on hand and is also undertaking development of various aircraft projects like the Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT), Hawk, Light Combat Aircraft, Advanced Light Helicopter, Sukhoi 30 Mki etc and in all, has orders in hand of around Rs 40,000 crore. Sources added that with the nation witnessing an aviation boom and with the demand for Indian and defence and civil aircraft projects likely to spring up in the near future, the thrust is on indigenisation. In India, only 30 per cent of the defence products used by the three armed forces is indigenous while the rest are imported.

 

[nitesh]

DRDO scientists build bridge with brains - Pune - Cities - The Times of India

DRDO scientists build bridge with brains
25 Mar 2009, 0211 hrs IST, Prasad Kulkarni, TNN


PUNE: It's the first such project in the world, claim scientists of the Research and Development Establishment (Engineers), a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Pune. The scientists are developing a lightweight, carbon fibre smart' bridge, which will be strong enough to hold a fully loaded battle tank.

"We have been working on the project for five years now and it has been successfully completed," said Makarand Joshi, one of the scientists involved. "Military and aerospace engineers always look for lighter and tougher structures to make their systems more efficient. Our project is one such attempt."

The eight-member team includes scientists Giridhar Singh, Mayur Godbole, Rahul Harshe and technician Felix Barla, as well as other supporting staff.

Joshi pointed out that the bridge has been put together entirely through indigenous technology, "This is the only structure of its kind anywhere in the world," he proclaimed. The only other bridge that could be compared to this is one in the US. "That bridge is 13 meters long, but has been developed with the help of a private company," he said. "The speciality of our bridge is that we have developed it entirely on our own. Our bridge is 5 metres long. We also plan to build a 24-metre bridge in the future."

According to Joshi, part of the bridge is currently at the laboratory, while one part has been sent to the National Aerospace Laboratory (NAL), Bangalore, for testing. After testing both parts, the bridge will be joined together in the Pune laboratory. Thereafter, the test of whether the bridge will withstand a fully loaded battle tank will be carried out. This was most likely to take place in July, said Joshi.

The bridge is made of carbon-epoxy materials and is 30% lighter than aluminium. The cost of building the bridge is almost the same as that of an aluminium bridge, but the expenses occurred on maintenance of the carbon composite material bridge will be lower, said Joshi. The bridge weighs just 1.2 tonnes, but should be able to carry the load of a 70-tonne battle tank, he added.

Explaining why it was called a smart' bridge, scientist Mayur Godbole said, "This bridge can monitor itself. Fibre optic sensors have been embedded in the bridge to achieve this smartness. It can assess the weight/load on it and manage its durability accordingly. The bridge can also be operated by remote. There is no need to depute men at the bridge to monitor it."

The scientists pointed out the vacuum-assisted resin transfer moulding (VARTM) used in the bridge, which enables cost-effective manufacture of such structures. This particular process was developed in totality at the R&DE (E), they said.

Such a bridge would be useful in the transportation of vehicles both in times of peace and war, they added.

 

[nitesh]

cross posting

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/03/31/stories/2009033150661100.htm

BHPV heat exchangers for LCA now certified

Our Bureau

Visakhapatnam, March 30 The Bharat Heavy Plate and Vessels (BHPV), which has developed eight types of compact heat exchangers for the Indian light combat aircraft (LCA), has been awarded the type certification, according to a press release.

The certificate was handed over to Mr Om Prakash, Managing Director of the BHPV, by Mr K. Tamilmani, Chief Executive of the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification, at a function in the BHPV here. The press release adds that the R&D wing of the BHPV here developed the heat exchangers in association with the Aeronautical Development Agency, Bangalore. With the certification, BHPV, a subsidiary of the BHEL, is now identified as the sole manufacturer for the equipment for the LCA.

 

[Triton]

Ashok Nayak is new HAL chairman

BANGALORE: Ashok Nayak will take charge as new chairman of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) from April 1. Nayak, who will be the HAL’s 15th chairman, succeeds Ashok K.

Baweja, who retired on March 31. Prior to this, Nayak was the managing director of HAL’s Bangalore Complex.

Hailing from Honnavar in Karnataka, Nayak, a Mechanical Engineer from Bangalore University, joined HAL as a management trainee in 1973. At the Engine Division in Bangalore (1986-1998), he headed production engineering and led the assembly, overhaul and repair of engines like Artouste, Garrett, Dart, Orpheus, Gnome, Adour and the Avon series.

As the GM of Aerospace Division in 2004, he gave a major thrust to the manufacturing of GSLV Mk III structural assemblies and tankages. In 2006, he took over as the GM of Aircraft Division at Bangalore Complex and gave a fillip to concurrent engineering and upgrade of Jaguar aircraft.

This period also saw him establishing a sound manufacturing base for the production of the Pilotless Target Aircraft, apart from providing impetus to the Hawk and IJT projects.

Govt gives full backing to Saras

The country’s first multi-purpose civil aircraft Saras programme which suffered a setback following the crash-landing of the one aircraft prototypes will go ahead as per schedule with the government extending full support to the project. T Ramasami, secretary department of science and technology on Tuesday said that there were no plans to abort the project midway. He added that the project would go ahead to realise the dreams of the test pilots and the engineer who lost their lives after the prototype aircraft crash on March 6.

The Saras aircraft is developed by the National Aerospace Laboratories, a constituent of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research under the Department of Science and Technology.

 

[Triton]

HAL profit at Rs. 2,260 crore

BANGALORE: Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has reported provisional results for 2008-09 with sales turnover of Rs. 10,260 crores, a 19 per cent growth over the previous year. The profit before tax stood at Rs. 2,260 crore and the value of production increased over last year by 27 per cent to Rs. 11,161 crores, HAL said. The order book position was Rs. 60,000 crore. — Special Correspondent.

 

[nitesh]

The link and the report from The Times of India are following herewith:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...it-to-hit-market-soon/articleshow/4360183.cms


DRDO's typhoid detection kit to hit market soon
5 Apr 2009, 0251 hrs IST, TNN
Print Email Discuss Share Save Comment Text:
TIRUCHI: A cost effective typhoid detection kit, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is likely to hit the
market soon.

DRDO chief controller and Brahmos Aerospace Limited chief executive officer A Sivathanu Pillai, who was in Tiruchi on Saturday to release the commemorative stamp on Brahmos supersonic missile, said the typhoid kit had undergone rigorous testing
and is waiting to go through the certification process mandatory for health-related products.

The agency for mass production of the testing kit has been identified and the product would hit the markets very soon, he said. Sivathanu Pillai indicated that the kit would cost one-fifth of the existing typhoid detection systems. Unlike the traditional approach to typhoid detection which may take a few days, the kit would help in quick diagnosis in just a few minutes, ensuring early care and control of the ailment.

The DRDO has also started working on indigenous cochlear implant. Cochlear implant costs about Rs 7 lakh in other countries presently, he said adding that the DRDO was working to cut down the cost to Rs 1 lakh. "We have developed the concept for a cochlear implant. Right now we are working on reducing the weight of the product. By December 2009, the product would be ready and would be given for certification from health agencies,'' he said.

Aspheric magnifier, aimed at increasing the vision for those suffering from partial blindness, was also ready and would hit the market in six months, Sivathanu Pillai said. The lightweight callipers, another product of DRDO would be distributed to one lakh physically disabled persons with the support of Life Insurance Corporation of India, he said.

On Brahmos, Sivathanu Pillai said test launches of the air version would be conducted in 2011 and it would subsequently be inducted into the air force in 2012. Brahmos Aerospace Limited would also embark on developing Brahmos II, the hypersonic missile that would travel at a speed of 5 to 7 Mac, he said.

 

[nitesh]

one more success:

http://www.samaylive.com/news/maiden-flight-of-indigenous-wankel-engine-of-uav-takes-off/616924.html

Maiden flight of indigenous Wankel engine of UAV takes off
Published by: Noor Khan
Published: Sun, 05 Apr 2009 at 19:53 IST

Bangalore, Apr 5 : The first ever indigenous Wankel Rotary engine, powering Nishant, the Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV), took off from a World War II abandoned runway near a village eight kilometres from Kolar in Karnataka.

The maiden flight of the indigenous Wankel engine of a UAV, which took off yesterday morning, climbed to an altitude of 1.8 km effortlessly before cruising for 35 minutes.

The air vehicle was recovered safely at the intended place at a dried-up lake after a total flight duration of 40 minutes, a defence press release said here today.

The event signifies achievements in many categories: It is the first time that a Wankel engine has been developed within the country and UAV flown with an indigenous engine.

The engine, a Wankel Rotary type, was a developmental project, which originated at the DRDO through VRDE, Ahmednagar, and was jointly designed and developed by NAL, a CSIR laboratory, VRDE, Ahmednagar, and ADE, Bangalore, it said.

The Wankel engine is the first of its kind that was totally designed and developed in the country. Very few countries in the world have the capability to develop and master this technology, the release said.

This indigenous engine is expected to replace the present imported engine for Nishant. (MORE)

 

[nitesh]

http://www.zeenews.com/nation/2009-04-07/521171news.html

India signs another defence deal with Israel

New Delhi, April 06: Close on the heels of a $2 billion missile deal with the Israeli Aerospace Industry (IAI), India has signed yet another deal with an Israeli defence company to build a munition factory in Bihar forgoing the mandatory offset clause, a senior official said.

The Rs.12 billion/$240 million deal with the Israel Military Industries Ltd. was signed with the Indian Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) on March 25. "No offset clause is there... It is the major concession granted in this deal," a senior defence ministry official told IANS requesting anonymity. The Indian defence procurement policy mandates an offset clause under which 30 percent of all defence deals of over Rs.3 billion have to be reinvested in the country. The munition factory will be built at Nalanda in Bihar along the lines of IMI's ordnance factory in the Tel Aviv suburb of Ramat Hasharon. The global tenders for the deal were floated in 2007 and following approval of the cabinet committee on security, the deal was inked. The deal with the IAI, signed in February this year, for joint development of medium range surface-to-air missiles ran into controversy because of a pending Central Bureau of Investigation's probe into the Barak missile deal where there were allegations of kickbacks. It also had a clause of six percent "business charge", which was politically criticised as illegal commission. Commissions on defence deals were banned by the government after the kickback controversy over the Bofors gun deal in the 1980s.

IANS

 

[nitesh]

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Apr62009/editpage20090405128328.asp

India's heavy water project comes of age
By K S Parthasarathy
Techonology for heavy water is being developed. This may lower energy consumption by 60 pc.

It is six decades since Dr Homi Jehangir Bhabha, the architect of nuclear India, initiated moves to make heavy water as a strategic material; he dreamt that India should produce large quantities of it indigenously. He converted his dream into a resolution and got it approved by the Board of Research on Atomic Energy at its second meeting held in Bombay on April 9 and 10, 1948.

“The government should explore the possibilities of using cheap hydroelectric power in India for manufacturing heavy water, on the one hand for our own requirements, and on the other for sale to other countries,” Bhabha pleaded in a covering note to Nehru. The Board’s resolution did not refer to any sale to other countries. So it probably was an afterthought by Bhabha.

In 1954, Dr Bhabha convinced Nehru to set up a fertiliser cum heavy water plant (HWP) at Nangal. The Nangal plant, the largest plant of this type in the world, produced the first drop of heavy water on August 9, 1962. In the next few decades, such drops accumulated into drums at Nangal, Kota, Tuticorin, Thalcher, Baroda, Thal, Hazira and Manuguru.

The rest as they say is history. From dreams to drums, the saga of heavy water production in India is a notable success story.

Heavy water is the coolant and moderator in Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR). India is self sufficient in heavy water production, and the Heavy Water Board (HWB) has exported 205 tonnes of heavy water so far.

Heavy water is similar to ordinary water (H2O). But there is a key difference in it. In heavy water, two regular hydrogen atoms are replaced with deuterium, a heavy isotope of hydrogen. Ordinary water contains about 150 parts per million of heavy water. We have to process over 100, ten litre buckets of water to get a cup of heavy water.

India is the largest manufacturer of heavy water in the world, perhaps the only country which has mastered the two processes (hydrogen sulphide-water bi-thermal and ammonia -hydrogen mono-thermal) to produce it. HWB is developing a technology at Baroda using water — ammonia exchange process to operate a heavy water plant independently of fertiliser plants. The cost of energy constitutes 70-80 per cent of the operating cost of HWPs. HWB could reduce over the last decade, specific energy (energy needed to produce a kg of heavy water) consumption by about 36 per cent by systematic energy conservation measures.

It is developing a novel, safe and clean technology to produce heavy water based on hydrogen-water exchange process; specific energy consumption may then be reduced by a further 60 per cent.

Low cost

Chairman and managing director of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) SK Jain, the main customer of HWB, has acknowledged that the cost of heavy water had come down by 20 per cent in the last few years. “NPCIL could have a surplus of Rs 11,000 crore just on that account,” he said. Plus during 2007-08, all heavy water plants excelled in their performance.

“The capacity utilisation during 2008-09 is expected to touch 125 per cent. HWP Manuguru achieved a capacity utilisation of 137 per cent and the lowest ever specific energy consumption during the year” A L N Rao chairman and chief executive, HWB, informed scientists attending the Heavy Water Day-2009.

HWB has diversified its activities successfully. The board produced many solvents vital to the nuclear industry, and extracted 18O, a valuable isotope for biomedical research, developed technologies to produce sodium metal, to recover uranium from phosphatic fertilisers and to prepare enriched boron.

HWB has faced many challenges (plant operation with fertiliser factories, power scarcity, export controls, poor national industrial infrastructure etc.) in mastering a technology known only to a few advanced countries.

Rao said, “In the functioning of the HWB or of various sub-committees of the board, or of the senior officers at different levels, I have seen team building qualities, challenges being taken up by youngsters and not getting stuck with problems but finding a way out. That’s what has made us move forward.”

Aptly said, the mood is upbeat in HWB.

(The writer is with the Department of Atomic Energy)

 

[Pintu]

Very good update , Nitesh thanks for it.

Regards,

Pintu

 

[nitesh]

hmm interesting:

http://www.zeenews.com/sci-tech/technology/2009-04-07/521399news.html

India developing technology to read terrorist's mind

Bangalore, April 07: In what could help building better strategy for anti-terror mechanism in the country, the Department of Science and Technology is facilitating a group of bright scientists to develop a complex human cognitive technology which would allow reading the mind of a terrorist. At the same time, scientists are also developing sensors that would detect hidden devices.

As many as 30 groups are involved in the initiative, part of homeland security, Secretary in the Department of Science and Technology, T Ramasami, told.

The idea is to integrate the technology and sensors to nail down terrorists, he said.

The Department is funding the programme, which has been taken up on a consortium model, Ramasami said, adding, he is requesting Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, to lead the teams.

"People who understand language, linguistics and people who look at nuclear magnetic resonance...they have come together to really understand the human cognition associated with the linguistic language processes in the mind," he said.

"This would really involve people from highly different disciplines including social sciences and humanities to people who understand physics in this mechanism."

Bureau Report

 

[nitesh]

good move:

http://www.ficcidrdoatac.com/about.htm

 

[Daredevil]

 

[nitesh]

DrDO Newsletter for April'09

info/updates on

Engine Test House at CVRDE, Avadi
Design and Cold Weather Concrete Testing Lab at
SASE, Manali
AEW&C Hangar at CEMILAC, Bengaluru
Knowledge Centre at DRDL, Hyderabad

 

[nitesh]

DRDO newsletter for May'09

YOUNG SCIENTIST AWARD-2008

Ms B Kusuma Kumari, Sci C, Advanced Numerical Research Centre (ANURAG), Hyderabad, for her significantly contributing to the design and development of Advanced Frequency Synthesizer Chip ANUSRUTHI. She was one of the member of the team to design and develop ANUVANI SOC. She also contributed to the design and development of ANUDSP processor.

Ms Varsha Agrawal, Sci D, Laser Science and Technology Centre (LASTEC), Delhi, for her successfully developing and demonstrating indigenous test systems to evaluate Precision Guided Munitions possessed by Indian Air Force such as Infrared guided missiles and laser-guided bombs in strap-on-conditions with the fighter aircraft SU-30 MK-I and Mirage-2000.

Ms Noopur Shrotriya, Sci D, Scientific Analysis Group (SAG), Delhi, for her significant contribution in the areas of speech analysis, speaker characterisation, and development of tools such as, accent identification, age group estimation, and speaker recognition. Shri K Mirjith, Sci C, Microwave Tube Research & Development Centre (MTRDC), Bangaluru, for excellent contributions towards the development of state-of-the-art electronic power conditioner incorporating communication and control interfaces required for the microwave power modules finding applications in EW, Data link, command guidance, SAR and conventional Radars.

Shri Mukesh Kumar Sharma, Sci C, Defence Research & Development Establishment (DRDE), Gwalior, for actively contributing to development of biosensor for detection of BW agents for six years. He has developed a system for detecting of pathogens like Salmonella typhi & Vibrio cholerae and has also contributed to the development of filter material for ATV programme.

Shri Nissar KE, Sci C, Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), Kochi,
for his significant contributions in the development of algorithm for Advance Defence
System. A large number of advanced signal processing algorithms for detection, tracking
and automatic recognition of torpedoes were developed for the first in the country for an
Anti-Torpedo Defence Systems.

Shri Pravin Kumar Singh, Sci C, Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL),
Ambernath, has been conferred, successful development of strategic components like
Porous Carbon Gas Diffusion material and molded graphite Bipolar Plates crucial for Fuel
Cell Technology.

Shri R Rajesh, Sci C, Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS), Bangaluru, for his successfully developing the signal processor for the SSR using state-of-the-art algorithms and has successfully integrated the processor with other subsystems. He has also developed anti-jamming techniques for a GPS receiver and has demonstrated the interference cancellation in real time using a hardware test set-up.

Shri Pramod N Dhande, Sci C, Electronics & Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), Hyderabad, for making significant contribution in designing and developing Trans-receivers for remote time setting’ applicable multi system of munitions and ammunitions.

Shri Mithun Palit, Sci C, Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL), Hyderabad, for his significant contributions in understanding the physical metallurgy and magnetic behaviour of giant magnetostrictive intermetallics for high power, low-frequency Sonar device.

Shri B Sreenath Bhat, Sci D, Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE),
Bangaluru, for his significant contributions in the successful development of pod structures, successful integration of Tarang system in various fighter aircraft, and for improving the system performance using innovative analysis techniques.

Shri R Vasudev, Sci C, Electronics & Radar Development Establishment (LRDE),
Bangaluru, for developing innovative Radar Data Processor (Tracker) and Radar Controller algorithms for complex, but proven, three versions of multibeam 3-D Medium Range Surveillance Radars which provided efficient radar tracking under intense EW scenarios and low-angle tracking in multipart conditions over the sea.

Shri V Bharatwaja Srinivasan, Sci C, Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam, for his significant contribution in the indigenous development of advanced marine hull by undertaking the hydrodynamic design and performance evaluation for two advanced marine hull forms and in the development of autonomous underwater vehicle.

Shri K Vamsi Krishna Reddy, Sci C, Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad, engaged in the mission-critical area of Target State Estimation for Air Defense. His work has contributed greatly to outstanding success of the exo- and endo-atmospheric intercepts of Tactical Ballistic Missiles.

Ms Ritu Khurana, Sci C, Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Chandigarh, for her commendable work in theoretical analysis and mathematical modelling of detonation and shock wave phenomena, which formed the basis for numerical simulation of multi point initiated implosion system. She was instrumental in the design and development of hybrid spherical wave lens will achieve 35 per cent reduction in weight and 15 per cent reduction in size in the new system.

Ms K Sujatha, Sci D, Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, for her significant
contribution in the design and development of real time embedded mission software
for Prithvi missiles and its variants. She has developed range-independent software for Prithvi-II class of missile which has recently been flight proven. It includes sophisticated GPS-INS fusion algorithm and heights of launch and impact points, can detect missioncritical problems.

Shri Kishore Choudhary, Sci C, Weapons & Electronics Systems Engineering
Establishment (WESEE), New Delhi, has contributed in design and development of
complex Data Distribution Unit (DDU) of Ring Laser Gyro (RLG) and its interfacing with
onboard fire control system of the missile complex for INS Prabal class of ships.


Shri Manoj Kumar Meena, Sci C, WESEE, New Delhi, has contributed in design and
development of Data Distribution Unit (DDU) of Ring Laser Gyro (RLG) for INS Ranvir
class of ships and interfacing its output to the legacy Russian equipment.

The Award was shared equally between Shri Manoj Kumar Meena, Sci C and Kishore
Choudhary, Sci , both from WESEE, Delhi