March, Issue 03

Vol 28
March 2008
No. 3
A Monthly House Bulletin of
Defence Research &
Development Organisation
The Hon'ble President
Visits RCI
4The Hon'ble President Visits RCI
4Inauguration of AUV Centre at NSTL
4 New Facility Established
Automatic Weather Station
4 CEMILAC Accords Type Approval for
MIDHANI Products
4 Manpower Development Activities
4 A Matter of Pride for DMRL Scientists
4 Technolgy Update
NBC Permeable Suit Mk IV
4 Personnel News
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Printed & published by Director, Defence Scientific Information &
Documentation Centre (DESIDOC), on behalf of Defence Research &
Development Organisation (DRDO), New Delhi-110 011.
Telephone: 011-23902471; Internet URL: www.drdo.com/pub/nl;
Fax: 011-23819151; E-mail: [email protected]
Appointment
Superannuation
4 HEMRL is 100 Year Old
4 Visits to Labs/Estts
Hon'ble President Smt Pratibha Patil at RCI
Shri M Natarajan felicitating the President
The First Lady President of India, Smt Pratibha Patil, visited Research Centre
Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, on the New Year Day which also marked the launching of
Golden Jubilee Year of DRDO. Smt Pratibha Patil was received and taken around
RCI by Shri M Natarajan, SA to RM. The President also visited AD Integration
Facility and showed keen interest in Agni Programme. Dr VK Saraswat,
Distinguished Scientist & CC R&D (MSS); Shri Avinash Chander, Distinguished
Scientist & Director, ASL; Shri SK Ray, Director RCI, and other senior scientists of
the laboratory also accompanied the President. Dr VK Saraswat in his welcome
address gave an overview of missiles developed under the Integrated Guided
Missiles Development Programme (IGMDP) and recent successful tests of Agni
and Interceptor Missile AAD. Smt Pratibha Patil in her address congratulated the
DRDO Community for its all round achievements during the past 50 years. She felt
that the current developments in areas of Missiles, Aircraft, Radar, etc. should meet
requirements of the Armed Forces and should also meet the delivery targets. She
reminded Scientists of the various challenges in development, production, and
induction of weapon systems. She stressed on upgradation and modernisation of
Defence equipment to keep pace with the rapid changes taking place in the world.
Shri SK Ray, Director, RCI proposed the vote of thanks.
CEMILAC Accords Type Approval for MIDHANI Products–
Dr V Bhujanga Rao, Director, Naval Science &
Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam,
inaugurated the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV)
Centre recently. Shri Govindarajan, Addl CCE (R&D),
South, was the Guest of Honour. Cmde N Banerjee,
Project Director (AUV) welcomed the gathering. Director
NSTL in his presidential address stressed the need for the
indigenous development of state-of-the-art of the
technology which will be useful both for Defence and the
civil sector. He exhorted the scientific community at NSTL
to deliver the AUV on time which will establish NSTL as
Dr Dipankar Banerjee, Distinguished Scientist and CC R&D
(AMS) handed over the Type Approval Certificates of four
Special Aeronautical Alloys to Shri M Narayana Rao, Chairman
& Managing Director, Midhani on behalf of Centre for Military
Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC). Midhani by
developing and producing exotic special metals and alloys to
meet the critical material requirements of aeronautics besides
Defence, Space, Nuclear and others is fulfilling the special
one of the finest institutions working in the area of
underwater platform technologies.
Inauguration of the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Centre
All the activities pertaining to development, fabrication, installation, and testing for various systems and sub-systems for
AUVs will be taken up at the AUV Centre which will host a Robotics Laboratory, Testing and Tuning Laboratory, Integrator's
Room, Controls and Propulsion Laboratory, Mini Workshop, Battery Room, Electrical and Electronics Stores, Mechanical
Stores, and a Conference Hall.
materials requirements of the country. Shri K Tamilmani,
Outstanding Scientist, Chief Executive (A), CEMILAC said that
Midhani would certainly play a key role in the development of
aeronautic grades of alloys for the multiple aircraft programmes
including Sukhoi 30, ALH, LCH, etc having demonstrated their
capability with 41 approvals so far.
Dr Dipankar Banerjee, handing over the Type Approval
Certificates of four special aeronautical alloys to Shri M
Narayana Rao. Also seen are Shri K Tamilmani, Shri Pulak
Sengupta, and Dr VK Varma.
Shri M Narayana Rao, in his address disclosed the development
of futuristic alloys such as Supercast material for Kaveri engine programme, modernisation and upgradation of the plant
New Facility Established
The four alloys that have been type tested and approved are:
a) Titan 26A : A creep-resistant Titanium alloy comparable to the western grade IMI 685, is used for fabricating
compressor discs stage I-V where temperature goes up to 520 °C.
Proof & Experimental Establishment (PXE), Chandipur, has installed Automatic Weather Station
developed by IRDAM Sa, Switzerland. The System is a sturdy and compact Automatic
b) ZS6Y-VI : It is a Nickel-based cast super alloy to be used for the manufacture of turbine blades and nozzle-guided vanes
of R 25 engine of MiG 21 B aircraft.
Meteorological Instrument ideally suited to obtain surface meteorological parameters such as
pressure, temperature, humidity, dew-point
c) Superni 718A : This is a Nickel Iron-based super alloy (in the form of cold rolled sheets) developed mainly for making
temperature, wind speed and direction in
rotating and static components such as by-pass-duct, Jet pipes, frames of aero engines for use up to 650 °C.
different field conditions. The system has an
d) E16NCD13 Alloy Steel: This is a very hard and with high mechanical strength steel used for manufacturing spiral and
inbuilt GPS system which gives the latitude
spur gears for transmission of power in aeroengine.
and longitude of the place. The system can be
operated while on move by fixing the unit on
to a vehicle. The trans-receiver at the basestation facilitates obtaining instant
meteorological parameters from the remote
station.
Data Monitoring Unit and Trans-receiver
Portable Meteorological
Sensor
Shri Pulak Sengupta, Director General, Directorate General Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DGAQA) and Shri VK
Varma, Regional Director, RCMA (Materials) briefed about the type approved alloys and how the four alloys have
performed beyond the set quality assurance parameters. Earlier, Shri K Ramesh, Director (Production & Marketing)
spoke on the development, production and processing of these four alloys at Midhani facilities. Shri AK Bhatia, Additional
General Manager (Aeronautical Materials Department) proposed the vote of thanks.
March 2008
March 2008
with focus on quality, quantity, and timely deliveries of the products.
Manpower Development Activities
during 19-20 December 2007. Dr W Selwamurthy,
Rules and Procedures during 7-11 January 2008. Thirty
participants attended the course.
Distinguished Scientist and CC R&D (LS&HR)
RCI, Hyderabad
and Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, Calgeri, Canada,
FIRING TRIALS FOR AKASH
DESIDOC, Delhi
Defence Scientific Information and Documentation Centre
(DESIDOC), Delhi, organised a Course on
Communications Skills during 7-11 January 2008. Dr AL
Moorthy, Director DESIDOC inaugurated the course and
delivered the Keynote Address. Thirty-five participants
from various DRDO labs/estts attended the course. The
National Institute of Scientific Communication &
Information Resources (NISCAIR), Delhi and DESIDOC
contributed to wards the faculty. Smt Sumati Sharma, Sci E
was the Course Director. Director DESIDOC, presided
over the valedictory function and also gave away the
certificates to the course participants.
DIAT, Pune & GTRE, Bangalore
identification of bioactive compounds, development of
inaugurated the symposium and delivered the valedictory
address. Prof HS Ramaswamy, Professor, Department of
Food Science, McGill University, Canada, presented the
theme of the symposium. Dr V Prakash, Director, Central
Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, delivered
the Keynote Address. The symposium provided an in-
Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, organised a
National Conference on Advances in Sensors for
Aerospace Applications (Sensors 2007) during 14-15
December 2007. Shri G Satheesh Reddy, Director Inertial
System Group, RCI gave an overview of the conference.
Shri SK Ray, Director, RCI delivered the Welcome
depth analysis of the emerging technologies in the field of
Address. Dr VK Saraswat, Distinguished Scientist & CC
food processing as well as it profiled noteworthy
R&D (MSS), the Chief Guest in his address stressed upon
Current Trends and Problem Areas in Sensor
Development. Shri KVSS Prasad Rao, Chairman NTRO
innovations across the companies, institutes, and
universities worldwide.
herbal drugs as adaptogens, radioprotection by phytoextracts and contamination of natural products and their
LRDE, Bangalore
biological effects. Dr Asheesh Gupta, Sci C was the Course
Director.
Electronics & Radar Development Establishment (LRDE),
Bangalore, organised a Course on Admin Management,
was the Guest of Honour. Two plenary talks, 28 invited
talks, 73 papers were presented during the various
sessions attended by 350 delegates. Shri K Rambabu,
Director Laser Systems, RCI was the Convener.
DFRL, Mysore
A Matter of Pride for DMRL Scientists
Air Breathing Engines and Aerospace Propulsion
Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL), Hyderabad, has been recognised for its excellence in R&D at the
61st Annual Technical Meeting of the Indian Institute of Metals held at Mumbai on 14 November 2007. A number of
(NCABE-2006) organised by DIAT, Pune, in the previous
awards have been given off to DMRL Scientist which are:
year.
Prof R Natarajan, former Chairman, AICTE and Director,
IIT Madras, Chennai, was the Chief Guest and delivered
the Keynote Address. Over 60 researchers from
laboratories and institutions all over the country
participated in the workshop. The workshop concluded
with a suggestion to form a society to provide a common
platform for all groups engaged in aero propulsion activities
in India. The proposed society will have its permanent
office at GTRE, Bangalore.
1 Dr Ashim Kumar Mukhopadhyay– Metallurgist of the Year 2007 under Non-ferrous Category
1 Dr G Madhusudhan Reddy, Sci F– Metallurgist of the Year 2007 under Materials Science Category
1 Dr G Madhusudhan Reddy, Sci F– First Prize in Oral Session under Non-ferrous Category
1 Shri Mithun Palit, Sci C; Dr J Arout Chalwane, Sci C; Shri Himalay Basumatary, Dr S Pandian, Sci F and Dr V
Chandrasekharan, Sci G–Second Prize in Poster Session in Metal Sciences-I Category
1 Dr P Ghoshal, Sci D; Shri R Sarkar, Sci B; Dr R Sankarasubramanian, Sci D– Second prize for TEM Micrograph in
Dr W Selwamurthy inaugurating the Symposium at DFRL
Defence Food Research Laboratory, (DFRL), Mysore,
DIPAS, Delhi
Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences (DIPAS),
Delhi, organised a Course on Phytochemistry during 10-
4
organised an International Symposium on Emerging
and Novel Food Processing Technologies in
collaboration with McGill University, Montreal, Canada,
the Metallography Contest
1 Dr P Ghoshal, Sci D; Shri R Sarkar, Sci B; Dr R Sankarasubramanian, Sci D– Second Prize for SEM Micrograph
in the Metallography Contest
The distribution of awards, an annual event, has been instituted in memory of the late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, by the
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers and Steel.
March 2008
March 2008
A one-day Workshop on Air Breathing Engines was
organised by Defence Institute of Advanced Technology
(DIAT), Pune, in association with Gas Turbine Research
Establishment (GTRE), Bangalore, on 28 December 2007.
It was a follow up activity to the 8th National Conference on
14 December 2007. Dr G lIavazhagan, Director, DIPAS
delivered the Inaugural Address. The course aimed at
providing the state-of-the-art trends in the field of
phytochemistry and herbal drug research to the DRDO
scientists, straight from the experts who have made a mark
in their own area of research. The research areas covered
were phytochemical methods (modern analytical
techniques), potential secondary metabolites/bioactive
molecules of plants, standardization of herbal products,
isolation and characterisation of natural products with
the suit is comfortable for wearing in both
thermo-neutral and warm conditions.
After a series of extensive lab and field trials in
different terrains, GS approval has been
accorded by the Army, the Air Force, and the
Navy. Other paramilitary organisations have also
A new generation of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) protective
suit, called NBC Permeable Suit Mk-IV has been developed by Defence
Materials & Stores Research and Development Establishment (DMSRDE),
Kanpur. The suit consists of a Jacket (smock) with hood and trousers. The
NBC permeable suit is based on state-of-the-art technology of activated
spherical carbon beads sandwiched between the fabric layers. It has very
high adsorption capacity, leading to much higher protection levels in
comparison to NBC Permeable Suit Mk-I developed earlier by DMSRDE
after acceptance of its induction into the Services and manufactured at
Ordinance Parachute Factory, Kanpur.
shown keen interest in this product. At present,
LSP order against Army Indent of 39868 sets
Activated Carbon Spheres
ACS Coated Laminated Fabric
costing more than Rs 40 crore is being executed
at OPF, Kanpur, after according ToT to the factory. Private trade firms have received technical know how from
DMSRDE and are meeting smaller requirements of Navy and other forces.
The NBC Permeable Suit Mk IV has high air permeability and also
provides protection for more than 24 h in contaminated environment. It is
both water- and oil-repellent and has flame retardant properties. The suit
can withstand three wash cycles under specified conditions without losing
functional performance.
ADRDE is ISO 9001:2000 Certified
Aerial Delivery Research & Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra, has implemented a Quality Management
System meeting the requirements laid down in ISO 9001:2000 on 21 November 2000. The scope of the certification
includes design and development of aerial delivery and allied systems; and research and development in the field of
aerodynamic decelerators. The Certification is valid till 30 October 2010.
The technology for the manufacture of the main adsorbent material, i.e.,
Activated Carbon Spheres (ACS) developed indigenously, has been
polyester viscose-blended fabric which is subsequently laminated with
LDPE-coated non-woven polyester fabric on the other side in a manner
NBC Suit Mk IV
that ACS is securely sandwiched. This composite fabric is used as inner layer for adsorption of vapours of chemical
warfare agents. The outer fabric is made from inherently flame-retardant polyester fibre and disruptive printing is done
for imparting camouflage, followed by treatment with
fluorocarbon. Both outer and inner fabrics have been
developed in such a way that the whole matrix remains
permeable to both air and water vapours for ensuring
comfort to the wearer.
Cross section of Composite Fabric
The design and dimensions of the suit have been
finalised on the basis of inputs obtained through
repeated field trials keeping in view the specific needs of
the Services. The suit has been designed in small,
medium, large and extra-large sizes to cater to all sizes
of the Services. Physiological evaluation of NBC Suit
was carried out at DIPAS, Delhi, which concluded that
MOU Signed for MEMS Devices
Research & Development Establishment Engineers (R&D E (Engrs)), Pune, has been identified as nodal establishment
in Western Region for development of MEMS Devices for structural, vehicular, and armament application. A
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between R&DE (Engrs), Pune, and SITAR, Bangalore for
fabrication of MEMS devices.
Type Approval of LCA Products Developed by HAL (LD)
Shri K Tamilmani, Outstanding Scientist and Chief Executive (Airworthiness), CEMILAC, Bangalore, handed over 12
Type Approval Certificates to Shri NC Agarwal, GM; and Dr AK Varma, AGM (Design) of HAL, Accessories Division,
Lucknow for their indigenously developed aeronautical products during a ceremony held at HAL, Lucknow on 12
January 2008. Type Approval has been handed over to the effect that the store under reference meets all design
specifications and test requirements laid down by CEMILAC. This is a step towards LCA development and self reliance.
March 2008
March 2008
transferred to the industry. The ACS are fixed in a hexagonal pattern on
frequency hopping VHF Radio (Combat Net Radio) for
AFV role. He led the team to successfully compete with a
foreign product and secure a big order for DEAL
developed CNRs after extensive user trials.
Appointment
currently under development at DLRL, Hyderabad.
DEAL, Dehradun
Shri RC Agarwal has been appointed
Director, Defence Electronics Applications
Laboratory (DEAL), Dehradun, wef 1
He has to his credit a number of technical papers
December 2007. He joined DEAL in
published in national and international (IEEE) Journals
November 2006 and
headed the
and presented papers in various conferences and
Communication Systems Group. He has
symposia. He has delivered lectures on High Resolution
been instrumental in formulating a programme for the
Array Processing for Direction of Arrival Estimation to the
development of Futuristic Software-defined Radio (SDR) which is likely to be the signature work for the laboratory.
Scientists of Ministry of Defence, Singapore. He is
member of IEEE and IETE.
Shri Agarwal, born in 1951, joined DRDO after obtaining
his Bachelor's in Electronics and Communication
Engineering from University of Roorkee and later obtained
his Master's in Communication and Radar from IIT, Delhi.
Superannuation
DEAL, Dehradun
Before joining DEAL, Shri Agarwal has served in various
Shri Asok Sen, Outstanding Scientist &
capacities at LRDE, Bangalore; NPOL, Kochi; and DLRL,
Director, Defence Electronics
Hyderabad. At LRDE Bangalore, he was instrumental in
Applications Laboratory (DEAL),
the development of Radar Display System. At NPOL
Dehradun, superannuated on
Kochi, he has contributed significantly for APSOH
November 2007. He started his career
(Advance Frigate Sonar), Vasuki (Towed Array Sonar),
HUMSA, MIHIR and Payal. For Project Payal, he
innovated an efficient beam stabilization algorithm for
at DLRL, Hyderabad, in 1968. He joined
compensating own platform dynamics like roll, pitch, and
yaw.
30
DEAL, Dehradun (then HRPU,
Dehradun) as Junior Scientific Officer in 1970.
Shri Agarwal played a vital role in establishing DSP
activities for EW applications at DLRL, Hyderabad. As
Project Director for Radar Finger Printing System (RFPS),
he has been responsible for the design and development
of RFPS as a P31 activity for Programme Sangraha. As
Project Director for DISHA, he has contributed significantly
He became head of the Telematics group in 1989 and was
responsible for the development of data links for DRDO's
Remotely Piloted Vehicle 'Nishant'. He and his team
contributed in developing the state-of-the-art technology
for Jam Resistant Command and Telemetry Links for
precise range measurement capability of the remotely
piloted vehicle, digital video links for real time transmission
of payload data, and precise monopulse tracking system
towards the development of Digital Receiver Technology.
for the RPV.
He was also instrumental in obtaining the sanction of
He was promoted as Sci G in 1997 and was entrusted with
Project Varuna (modern ESM system for Navy), which is
the additional responsibility of development of the
8
underwent extensive trials with the Indian Navy.
The High Energy Materials Research
Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune, is one of the
prestigious Laboratory of DRDO. HEMRL
st
launched its Centenary Celebrations on 1
January 2008 along with launching of Golden
Jubilee Celebrations of DRDO. This laboratory
has been entrusted with the task of basic and
applied research and development in the area
of high energy materials (propellants,
explosives, pyrotechnics and allied chemicals). Spread over an area of 850 acres, HEMRL's history dates back to the
year 1908, when it started as the Chemical Examiners Office, at Nainital. It has undergone radical changes in its charter
of duties, responsibilities, and location, and finally emerged as a full-fledged laboratory as Explosives Research and
Development Laboratory (ERDL) in 1963. In view of the specialised nature of jobs pertaining to broad spectrum of high
energy materials, it was in1995 that ERDL was rechristened as the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory
(HEMRL), a name that encompasses the focused mandate of the laboratory. The Names and locations HEMRL has
passed through are:
Year
Name & Location
1908
Chemical Examiner's Office (CEO), Nainital
1913
Chemical Inspector (CI), Nainital
1921
Chemical Inspector (CI), Rawalpindi, Branch at Pune
1936
Chemical Inspector (CI), Pune (HQ)
1942
Chief Inspector of Military Explosives (CIME), Pune
1951
Technical Development Establishment (TDE), Pune
1960
Explosives Research & Development Laboratory (ERDL), Pune
1995
High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune
9
March 2008
March 2008
Shri Agarwal has received Cash Award for APSOH,
Technology Award for Project Panchendriya and
Laboratory Technology Award for RFPS.
As Director, Telematics Group, he also led his team to
develop and supply a Modem for Wire-guided Torpedo for
NSTL, Vishakhapatnam. The developed system
He was appointed Director, DEAL on 1 June 2004. During
his leadership, the laboratory emerged as a major
systems laboratory of the DRDO in the area of Satellite
Communications, Software Radios, Data Links, Satellitebased Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Image
Processing, and Microwave & Millimeter Wave Systems.
VISITS TO DRDO LABS/ESTTS
HEMRL, Pune
Air Marshal AV Vaidya, VM, Dy Chief of Integrated Defence
Staff (DCIDS) visited HEMRL on 11 January 2008.
Air Marshal Vaidya being briefed about the exhibits of HEMRL
LRDE, Bangalore
Dr SC Pandey, Addl FA (P) & JS visited LRDE on 24 January
2008. Dr Pandey visited the BFSR-SR, Bharani, Aslesha, WLR,
XV 2004 and 3-D CAR radars. He also visited the Mechanical
Engineering Facilities, APNFM, Antenna lab, EMI/EMC
Sir CV Raman on his visit at LRDE on 17January 1966
chamber and quality reliability and assurance test facilities.
Defence Minister Shri Jagjiwan Ram at LRDE on 3 August 1974
March 2008
January
2008
March 2008
January
2008
Dr Pandey showing keen interest in the
activities of LRDE
ISSA, Delhi
Maj Gen DV Kalra, ADG (IS), AHQ, New Delhi, visited ISSA
on 10 January 2008. He was briefed by the Director on the
thrust areas and projects of ISSA and future plans, especially
in Net-Centric Warfare Strategy Development. He showed
keen interest in activities related to wargames, ANSEE and
Network Centric Warfare IAD concept development
programme.
Maj Gen Kalra being shown a demonstration of
the activities of ISSA
ITR, Chandipur
Dr Raja Ramanna the then Scientific Adviser visited on 7January 1982.
Also standing is Dr VS Arunachalam the then Director, DMRL
Shri Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare, Governor of Orissa visited ITR, Chandipur, on 29 January 2008.
Dr RP Shenoy the then Director, LRDE being awarded Padma Shri by
the then Hon'ble President Gyani Zail Singh in 1987
10
11