G. SATHEESH REDDY has had a fascinating first year as chairman of the country’s premier defence research agency, the Defence Research and Development Organisation. After achieving the final operational clearance for the light combat aircraft Tejas and the successful anti-satellite test, he is now leading a multi-pronged effort to build the next class of fighter jets.
Besides developing more powerful engines and potent weaponry, the DRDO is now capable of building much bigger jets, including commercial aircraft. At a time when China is helping Pakistan develop its next-generation fighter jet, the DRDO’s fighter jet project will provide extra firepower to the Indian Air Force. In an exclusive interview with THE WEEK, India’s top defence scientist talks about the DRDO’s big plans.
You have completed one year as DRDO chairman. What are the changes you have been able to bring into the field of defence research?
The first year as DRDO head has been very eventful for me. We are in a phase of consolidating and expanding into futuristic technologies in defence research. We are converting our experience and skills into matured technologies and expanding our product range to fulfil the requirements of the tri-services. We could successfully demonstrate anti-satellite capability and become the fourth nation to do so.
At the same time, I have initiated research in advanced fields like quantum technologies, artificial intelligence, asymmetric technologies, advanced materials and sensors, and so on. Defence technologies for space and cyber security are other areas where we have started work in a big way. Work on indigenous air propulsion systems is progressing well. Trials of Nirbhay cruise missile, Nag missile and anti-tank guided missile have been successfully conducted in the past one year.
Can you name some key upcoming projects, and at what stages these projects are at the moment?
The new platform systems that we are initiating include advance medium combat aircraft, new-generation main battle tank, long-range radars, airborne warning and control system, sonar suites, high-thrust aero engines, engines for wheeled platforms, underwater autonomous vehicles and hypersonic glide vehicles.
Some of the systems under advanced deployment include long-range air-to-air missile, long-range anti-ship missile, standoff anti-tank missile, advanced torpedoes, medium-range surface-to-air missile for the Army, a ship-launched short-range surface-to-air missile for the Navy, Astra Mk-II air-to-air missile, naval anti-ship missile, etc.
At what stage is LCA Tejas in?
The final operational clearance for LCA was accorded in February 2019. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, the designated production agency, has commenced the series production.
There are few nations in the world that have achieved this feat—making a fighter aircraft of their own. And we are one of them. It was about three decades of struggle.
Can you talk about the Tejas Mk-II programme?
Tejas Mk-II is a medium-weight fighter that will replace the Mirage. The preliminary design phase has been completed and detailed design is in progress. It will have a higher thrust engine compared with Mk-I. The design phase of Mk-II [for the] Navy is over and it will meet all the requirements.
The first flight of Mk-II will happen in 2022 and it will take another five to six years to get to production. By the time, the Mirage will complete its lifespan.
Pakistan recently test-fired its nuclear-capable surface-to-surface ballistic missile Ghaznavi. Has the DRDO been able to develop significant deterrence against missile threats from Pakistan?
Yes, we have developed and demonstrated a ballistic missile defence system in its entirety, through both simulation and actual interception of live targets. We have resources like radars and other sensors to detect and engage the emerging threats.
India is one of the few countries in the world to successfully pursue a ballistic missile defence (BMD) programme. We have taken significant strides in this domain. I would not comment on operational aspects, but I can assure you that we have developed a BMD system that can tackle potential threats.
Have we achieved enough in aircraft manufacturing technology?
In the three decades we spent on developing a fighter jet, many basic technologies were developed. Today [India] can design and configure the airframe, and develop software and avionics. In fact, if you can make a layout of the overall configuration of an aircraft, you know where to plug in all the subsystems. We have reached that stage.
Where have we reached in developing an aircraft engine?
Aircraft engine is an important aspect that we have not developed. But, even if you look worldwide, engine-makers are very few. Only five countries in the world produce [aircraft] engines.
The DRDO is in talks with an international partner to develop a jet engine that has 110Kn (kilonewton) power. So far, no such engine exists in the world.
It means that the Kaveri engine is heading nowhere?
It is not being shelved. In the process, we have got good into engine technology. While developing Kaveri engine, a number of things have been achieved. Today, we are in the advance stages of developing an engine for Nirbhaya. Kaveri dry engine is also getting tested for unmanned aerial vehicles. In [making] dry engine, we are very confident today. Some ground tests are being done and other tests will go through. This is what [Kaveri] has given to us.
Where do you want to see the DRDO in the next few years?
The DRDO should only concentrate on research and developing futuristic systems…. Till now, it has [looked at] design, development, production, maintenance and everything else. It is very difficult. We need to concentrate on research and futuristic systems and handhold the industry [in the development and production side]. Let the industry develop without help, if required.
To read the full interview
Visit www.theweek.in
