Agni Putri to head DRDO’s aeronautical projects

By Hemanth CS

The country’s top woman missile scientist, Tessy Thomas, has been appointed to head the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) aeronautical projects.

Tessy, who has successfully helmed the launch of Agni missiles for many decades, is the first woman be appointed as DRDO’s Director General, Aeronautics Systems (DG-Aero).


Popularly known as Agni Putri, Tessy, is currently director of the Hyderabadbased Advanced Systems Laboratory, following her elevation as DG-Aero she will now be based out of Bengaluru and will head aeronautics, which is one of the 10 technological clusters of DRDO labs and establishments. The aeronautics cluster lab comprises five Bengaluru-based laboratories — Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE), Gas Turbine Research and Development Establishment (GTRE), Centers for Airborne Systems (CABS) Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Center for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) and the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE) which is located in Agra. Tessy is the third woman DG to head a technological cluster of DRDO and will take over from CP Ramanarayanan on June 1.

A celebrated missile scientist, Tessy had shattered the glass ceiling when she was chosen to oversee the launch of the Agni missiles. In 2010, Tessy, as Project Director of the Agni-4, became the first woman scientist to head an important missile project not just in India but in the world.

Tessy, who hails from Alappuzha in Kerala, has been associated with the Agni project since 1988, but the mission that catapulted her to fame was the successful launch of Agni 4 in 2011.

As project director of Agni 4, she and her team prepared and integrated the missile system and launched it successfully.

A year later, she also oversaw the successful launch of the Intercontinental Continental Ballistics Missile (ICBM) the Agni 5. The elevation of Tessy to the post of DG Aero has surprised many considering that she has a long association with the country’s missile programme and had very little to do with the aeronautical cluster in the past.

As head of the DRDO’s aeronautics cluster in Bengaluru, she will be overseeing several projects crucial projects which have been delayed for many years and awaiting to enter the armed forces. Tessy will be overseeing some of the crucial projects in her new role as the head of the aeronautics cluster (See box on right). She has to ensure that they not only overcome the setback they have suffered but also see that they join the armed forces.

LCA Tejas
The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) project is one of the most delayed indigenous defence in the country. The Ministry of Defence had initiated the project way back in the 1980s to replace the ageing MiG-21s. However, it has been delayed for several years and only in July 2016, Tejas was inducted in the IAF. It is yet to Final Operational Clearance (FOC) which is slated to take place later this year. The FOC aircraft would incorporate Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles, improved and better stand-off weapons and air-to-air refuelling capability. Attaining the FOC, will be a major bolster for not only the three-decadeold LCA programme, but also the IAF, which is looking to increase its depleting squadron strength. The Bengaluru-based Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) is the nodal agency to develop Tejas and HAL is the manufacturer. Defence Acquisitions Council has cleared acquisition of 83 LCA for IAF and production is planned from 2019-2020.

Kaveri engine
Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), another laboratory of the cluster, which has been involved in the design and development of the Kaveri engine has made little progress on it, since it was initiated decades ago. The Kaveri engine programme originally conceived to power the LCA Tejas has been in developmental stage for the last two-and-a-half decades and is dogged with several problems. As GTRE has failed to deliver the Kaveri engine for the LCA programme, the Tejas has had to rely on American GE engines.

Nirbhay Missile
The sub-sonic, medium range cruise missile Nirbhay is developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), another lab of the cluster. The missile was test-fired in 2013 but the flight had to be terminated as after travelling mid-way, deviations were observed from its intended course. Following this, three more trials were conducted out of which only one was declared a success.