Dr. Kalam: the Missile Man of India

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Dr. Kalam: the Missile Man of India Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 Dr. Kalam: The Missile Man of India Dr. Manas Ranjan Senapati Dr. Ajay Kumar Swain Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen (A. P. J.) Abdul referred to as the “People’s President”, he returned Kalam (15 October 1931 – 27 July 2015) was to his civilian life of education, writing and public the11th President of India from 2002 to 2007. A service after a single term. He was a recipient of career scientist turned politician, Kalam was born several prestigious awards, including the Bharat and raised in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, and Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour. studied physics and aerospace engineering. He Democratic India’s missile programme spent the next four decades as a scientist and dates back to the late 1950s, when Jawaharlal science administrator, mainly at the Defence Nehru was the Prime Minister of India and Dr. Research and Development D. S. Kothari was the Scientific Organisation (DRDO) and Abdul Kalam Island, formerly known Advisor to the Defence Indian Space Research as Wheeler Island, is an island off the Minister. In 1958, the Organisation (ISRO) and was coast of Odisha, approximately 150 government of India constituted intimately involved in India’s kilometres (93 mi) from the state capital Bhubaneswar. The Integrated a team of Indian scientists - civilian space programme and Test Range maintaining a missile testing called the Special Weapons military missile development facility is located in the island. In Development Team - to efforts. He thus came to be September 2015, Chief Minister Naveen research guided missile known as the Missile Man of Patnaik declared that the island would be weapons development. India for his work on the renamed to honour the late Indian president, APJ Abdul Kalam. Motivated to strengthen development of ballistic its defences after the missile and launch vehicle technology. He also 1962 Sino-Indian War, and the prevailing played a pivotal organisational, technical, and international scenario of the time, the government political role in India’s Pokhran-II nuclear tests of Independent India renewed its focus on Indian in 1998, the first since the original nuclear test by missile technology development. Initially, the India in 1974. scientists of the Special Weapons Development Kalam was elected as the 11th President Team worked from Met Calfe House (New of India in 2002 with the support of both the Delhi), but the establishment later shifted to ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the then- Hyderabad after the state government granted opposition Indian National Congress. Widely them the former Nizam’s army barracks. This was January - 2017 37 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review the genesis of the Defence Research and platform-based inertial navigation system (INS) Development Laboratory (DRDL) – earlier was developed and tested, on board an Avro known as the Special Weapons Development aircraft, in 1974–75. Subsequently, an INS was Team – under DRDO, solely formed for missile built for both missiles and an aircraft, and this was technology research and development. tested in 1979 on board a Canberra aircraft. Its first anti-tank missile was a totally By the start of 1980’s, DRDL had indigenous product, which was successfully test- developed competencies in the fields of fired. The project laid the foundation of India’s propulsion, navigation and manufacture of missile programme and many from this group who materials. Thus, India’s political and scientific were involved in the development of the anti-tank leadership, which included prime minister Indira missile to be used in Sarath ICVs manufactured Gandhi, Defence Minister R. Venkataraman, V.S. at Ordnance Factory Medak, went on to set up Arunachalam (Scientific Advisor to the Defence the Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Hyderabad Minister), decided that all these technologies in the proximity of the ordnance factory, which should be consolidated. became the production agency of missiles in India. This led to the birth of the Integrated (In the 1970s, SS-11B anti-tank missiles were Guided Missile Development Program and Dr. manufactured under license from France at the Abdul Kalam, who had previously been the BDL.) project director for the SLV-3 programme As Indian science and technology was at ISRO, was inducted as the DRDL Director in curtailed before it became independent, and 1983 to conceive and lead it. He decided that missile technology had developed at a fast pace DRDL would pursue multiple projects in this area after the second world war, India decided to simultaneously. The Agni missile was initially update itself on missile technology by reverse conceived in the IGMDP as a technology engineering a surface-to-air missile. This project demonstrator project in the form of a re-entry was code-named Project Devil and it worked, vehicle, and was later upgraded to a ballistic from 1970 to 1979, on reverse engineering the missile with different ranges. As part of this Russian SAM-2 (which Russia supplied to India). program, the Interim Test Range at Balasore in Dr. B. D. Nag Chaudhri (then Scientific Adviser Orissa was also developed for missile testing. to the Defence Minister) advocated the need to build technologies needed for the future, such as liquid propellant powered engines. Thus, a parallel program called Project Valiant was also initiated to build a rocket engine powered by liquid propellants. V. K. Saraswat was part of the team that built the engine between 1971 – 1974. Dr. Manas Ranjan Senapati, Professor & Head, Department of Chemistry, Trident Academy of Other scientists at DRDO simultaneously Technology, Bhubaneswar-751024, Email : focused on building a guidance package – an [email protected]. essential part of a long-range missile that Dr. Ajay Kumar Swain, Dean, Students Welfare, Gandhi determines its path and accuracy to hit a target. A Institute for Technology, Bhubaneswar. 38 January - 2017.
Recommended publications
  • History of Science and Technology: Unit: IV
    History of science and Technology: Unit: IV Space research: It is scientific study carried out in outer space, and by studying outer space. From the use of space technology to the observable universe, space. Everyday benefits of space exploration • Improving our understanding of the human body. ... • Talking on cellular phones. ... • Satellites in our everyday lives. ... • Creating jobs in technology. ... • Taking action on climate change. ... • Making scientific discoveries. ... • Performing risky surgical procedures. ... • Getting young people interested in science Importance of space research: In the past four decades, space science and technology freed human beings from the confines of Earth. ... The peaceful uses of outer space provided a powerful tool for bringing about global cooperation and furthering of the well-being of humanity and the Earth's environment. Rockets: The United states and the soviet union created their own missile programs. The space research field evolved as scientific investigation based on advancing rocket technology. In 1948–1949 detectors on V-2 rocket flights detected x-rays from the Sun. Sounding rocketshelped show us the structure of the upper atmosphere. As higher altitudes were reached, space physics emerged as a field of research with studies of Earths aurora, ionosphere and magnetosphere. Artificial satellites The first artificial satellite, Russian Sputnik 1, launched on October 4, 1957, four months before the United States first, Explorer 1. The major discovery of satellite research was in 1958, when Explorer 1 detected the Van Allen radiation belts. Planetology reached a new stage with the Russian Luna programme between 1959 and 1976, a series of lunar probes which gave us evidence of the Moons chemical composition, gravity, temperature, soil samples, the first photographs of the far side of the Moon by LUNA 3, and the first remotely controlled robots (Lunokhod to land on another planetary body.
    [Show full text]
  • Current Affairs November 2015
    CCUURRRREENNTT AAFFFFAAIIRRSS NNOOVV 22001155 -- TTEECCHHNNOOLLOOGGYY http://www.tutorialspoint.com/current_affairs_november_2015/technology.htm Copyright © tutorialspoint.com News 1 - GSAT-15 of ISRO launched successfully The GSAT-15, India’s communication satellite, was launched successfully by the European Ariane 5 VA-227 launch Vehicle. This massive 3164 kgs GSAT-15 carries communication transponders in Ku-band as well as a GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) payload operating in L1 and L5 bands. This is the 3rd satellite to carry GAGAN payload after GSAT-8 and GSAT-10. Navigation payload GAGAN would provide orbital backup to ensure safety of life navigation services in the civil aviation sector. News 2 - Agni-IV missile test fired successfully The Nuclear capable surface-to-surface Agni-IV missile was successfully test-fired by the Indian Army’s Strategic Forces Command (SFC). This two-stage solid-propelled, surface-to-surface ballistic missile is designed to carry a one-tonne payload to a distance of 4,000 kms. During the test fire, this missile covered a range of more than 3,500 kms, before splashing down in the waters of Bay of Bengal. News 3 - Chinese Supercomputer Tianhe – 2 declared the most powerful supercomputer for sixth straight time China’s Tianhe-2 supercomputer has emerged as the world’s most powerful supercomputer system for the sixth consecutive time. This supercomputer also called as the Milky Way 2 has been developed by China’s National University of Defense Technology. The supercomputer Titan of the US Department of Energy and supercomputer Sequoia of the Tech giant IBM have been placed at second and third position respectively.
    [Show full text]
  • SIPRI Yearbook 2018: Armaments, Disarmament and International
    world nuclear forces 267 VI. Indian nuclear forces shannon n. kile and hans m. kristensen India is estimated to have a growing arsenal of 130–40 nuclear weapons (see table 6.7). This figure is based on calculations of India’s inventory of weapon-grade plutonium and the number of operational nuclear-capable delivery systems. India is widely believed to be gradually expanding the size of its nuclear weapon stockpile as well as its infrastructure for producing nuclear warheads. Military fissile material production India’s nuclear weapons are believed to be plutonium-based. The plutonium was produced at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in Trombay, Mumbai, by the 40-megawatt-thermal (MW(t)) heavy water CIRUS reactor, which was shut down at the end of 2010, and the 100-MW(t) Dhruva heavy water reactor. India operates a plutonium reprocessing plant for military purposes at the BARC.1 India plans to build six fast breeder reactors by the 2030s, which will significantly increase its capacity to produce plutonium that could be used for building weapons.2 An unsafeguarded 500-megawatt-electric (MW(e)) prototype fast breeder reactor (PFBR) is being built at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) complex at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu. The PFBR is expected to be commissioned in mid-2018 following a series of technical delays.3 The IGCAR has announced that a fast reactor fuel cycle facility will be built at Kalpakkam to reprocess spent fuel from the PFBR and future fast breeder reactors. The plant is scheduled to be commissioned by 2022.4 India is currently expanding its uranium enrichment capabilities.
    [Show full text]
  • Tamil Nadu News National News
    July-28 TAMIL NADU NEWS PM Modi inaugurated Dr APJ Abdul Kalam memorial in Rameshwaram PM Modi inaugurated Dr APJ Abdul Kalam memorial in Rameshwaram. The memorial is situated at Pei Karumbu near Rameswaram, where the mortal remains of Kalam were laid to rest. The task of building the 15 crore worth of memorial was taken up by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). A replica of India’s most powerful long-range missile, Agni, has also been installed at the memorial site. Satellite models, more than 700 photographs of Dr.Kalam, and 91 paintings are exhibited at the memorial site. The memorial was inaugurated on the second death anniversary of Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam. NATIONAL NEWS Odisha formally named Wheeler Island after APJ Abdul Kalam Former President of India, A.P.J.Abdul Kalam’s Death Anniversary: July 27 Odisha government has formally named the Wheeler island in Bhadrak district as ‘APJ Abdul Kalam Island’. The revenue and disaster management department issued a gazette notification after obtaining no objection certificate from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Odisha government has named the island as a tribute to the former president on his second death anniversary. Dr.Kalam had an emotional attachment with the interim test range at Chandipur in Balasore district and Wheeler Island in Bhadrak district. He had spent most of his time in these two places as part of his efforts to develop missiles for the protection of the country. INTERNATIONAL NEWS BRICS tax authorities inked landmark Taxation Cooperation Memorandum Tax authorities of the five BRICS countries signed a landmark document to establish a mechanism for taxation cooperation.
    [Show full text]
  • ?Vh Decrz D UZU ¶E Trfdv Daz\V
    ! :" * . ; ; ; 012%&0#3!45" "#$$"% +",-. &'(')* *. ' ?0860!7$09"/!5" 0'704*50$506?!95!/#5 / 8*!@5$@#50 "56786/$?4@& 7@*067/045!&09 "5*!048468#@ *078!04A784/$59084 5$74@6@A60&A59 904$78908*/9 $704"8097 "5790"/4 7A"5900"B8C0A&0"0 <6$ -.%/(= 00# > <0 !5 0 . "!6 !" R !R#$%&& ' 45&"5678 Maharashtra. In Kerala and Vehicle Factory (HVF), Avadi. Telangana also these variants The factor which makes tanks s many as 194 persons in have been found. Also, three is expected to receive the indent AIndia are infected with others — UK, South Africa within this financial year before three known strains first and Brazil variants are there in March 31. found in the UK, South Africa the country. But there is no Moreover, within 30 and Brazil, but there has been reason for us to believe that months from the date of indent, no evidence to show that they are responsible for the HVF Avadi will deliver five pre- these new variants are respon- upsurge of the outbreak in production model tanks to the sible for the upsurge in Covid- some districts of Maharashtra 45&"5678 Army for evaluation and for- 19 cases in Kerala and and Kerala,” Paul said. mulation of General Service Maharashtra, said the Union He added that the two n a boost to the indigenisa- Quality Requirements (GSQR) Health Ministry on Tuesday. variants have been found in Ition in Defence production, for the larger order, they said. The two States account for India’s three States. “There are the Defence Acquisition Designed, Developed and In a related development, 75 per cent of total active two variants in Maharashtra Council (DAC) on Tuesday Manufactured)].
    [Show full text]
  • Indian Ministry of Defence Annual Report 2011-2012
    ANNUAL REPORT 2011-2012 Ministry of Defence Government of India Joint Army-Air Force Exercise ‘Vijayee Bhava’ Army-Air Force Exercise ‘Vijayee Joint Front Cover :- Contingent of the Para-Regiment at the Republic Day Parade-2012 (Clockwise) AGNI-IV Test IAF’s Mi-17 V5 Helicopter Coast Guard Interceptor Boat ICGS C-153 Annual Report 2011-12 Ministry of Defence Government of India CONTENTS 1. Security Environment 1 2. Organisation and Functions of the Ministry of Defence 9 3. Indian Army 17 4. Indian Navy 33 5. Indian Air Force 43 6. Coast Guard 49 7. Defence Production 57 8. Defence Research and Development 93 9. Inter Service Organizations 113 10. Recruitment and Training 131 11. Resettlement and Welfare of Ex-Servicemen 153 12. Cooperation between the Armed Forces and Civil Authorities 167 13. National Cadet Corps 177 14. Defence Relations with Foreign Countries 189 15. Ceremonial, Academic and Adventure Activities 199 16. Activities of Vigilance Units 213 17. Empowerment and Welfare of Women 219 Appendices I Matters dealt with by the Departments of the Ministry of Defence 227 II Ministers, Chiefs of Staff and Secretaries who were in 231 position from January 1, 2011 onwards III Summary of latest Comptroller & Auditor General 232 (C&AG) Report on the working of Ministry of Defence IV Position of Action Taken Notes (ATNs) as on 31.12.2011 in respect 245 of observations made in the C&AG Reports/PAC Reports 3 4 1 SECURITY ENVIRONMENT IAF SU-30s dominating the air space 1 The emergence of ideology linked terrorism, the spread of small arms and light weapons(SALW), the proliferation of WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) and globalisation of its economy are some of the factors which link India’s security directly with the extended neighbourhood 1.1 India has land frontiers extending Ocean and the Bay of Bengal.
    [Show full text]
  • Chitra Dwani
    PROPELLING HEALTHCARE IN MISSION MODE “We have indigenously developed state-of-the-art missile technology, making India self-reliant in the production of combat missiles and missile interceptors. It got realized through mission mode activity with a strong leadership and well managed workforce. The missile technology mission could be taken as a model for addressing the challenges in healthcare for the benefit of all citizens”. Dr.Vijay Kumar Saraswat, Hon’ble President of Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), Trivandrum, shares his experiences in missile development mission and suggests the lessons therein for the healthcare sector. Here are excerpts from his informal conversation with Dr.Srinivas Gopala and Dr.Manoj Komath. Sir, we see that your professional career has been devoted to missile development. How did you get introduced to this exotic field ? That happened in the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Campus, when I enrolled for ME in 1970. I joined the Aeronautics Department for a course on Internal Combustion Engine. I did my Bachelors in Science and B Tech in Mechanical Engineering in my hometown, Gwalior, before coming down South to Bangalore. IISc is a different world where a student gets the rare exposure to exotic, state-of-the-art subjects. I studied ‘Rocketry’ as an elective. Sir, can you tell us about your entry into defence research ? That was through Campus selection in 1972 for the newly formed Defence Research and Development Laboratory in Hyderabad. It was set up under a special fund from the government for missile technology development. Only a few countries had that knowhow at that time and India was dependent on them for such weapons.
    [Show full text]
  • IAS/OAS DAILY QUIZ No. 504 (25.11.2019)
    IAS/OAS DAILY QUIZ No. 504 (25.11.2019) 1. Recently the National Agrochemicals Congress concluded with recommendations for safe and judicious pesticide use in the country. Which of the following statements regarding the same stands true ? 1. Agrochemicals will continue to play a major input in agriculture to meet the crop production targets and we must strive to ensure its safe and judicious use. 2. The Congress is conducted in view of the role chemical pesticides still continue to play in pest management as more and more target specific and environment friendly products are being introduced. 3. The benefits of pesticide use are high relative to their risks. New concepts in crops, human health, resource management, nanotechnology, smart formulations and related sciences are likely to boost agricultural productivity. (a) 1 & 2 only (b) 2 & 3 only (c) 1 & 3 only (d) All the above 2. Which of the following pairs of deltas of India are correctly arranged from North to South ? (a) Sunderbans , Mahanadi , Krishna , Godavari (b) Mahanadi , Sunderbans , Godavari , Krishna (c) Sunderbans , Mahanadi , Godavari , Krishna (d) Mahanadi , Sunderbans , Krishna , Godavari 3. Which of the following statements regarding the procurement and distribution of food grains in India are not true ? 1. While the Centre allocates and transports the food grain from Food Corporation of India godowns to the ration shops, the onus of ensuring that right beneficiaries get the subsidised food grain falls on the states and Union territories. 2. Since the ration cards are not linked to the places where a person used to live, the migrants need not apply for new ration cards at their new locations if they want to buy subsidised food grain.
    [Show full text]
  • Current Affairs Part - Iii
    CURRENT AFFAIRS PART - III CONTENTS ENVIRONMENT Smog towers ................................................................................................................................. 8 ―The Toxic Truth‖ Report on lead poisoning by UNICEF ............................................................... 9 Report on leopard sightings .......................................................................................................... 9 NGT brings strict conditions for commercial use of ground water ............................................... 10 World Biofuel day ....................................................................................................................... 11 TRAFFIC study on leopards ........................................................................................................ 12 How the tiger can regain its stripes? .......................................................................................... 13 Forest Ministry releases guide to managing human-elephant conflict ......................................... 14 No-Go‘ forests cleared for coal mining ........................................................................................ 14 BIS‘ draft standard for drinking water supply ............................................................................ 15 National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) ........................................................................................ 16 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) – Transport Initiative for Asia (TIA). .......................
    [Show full text]
  • SP's Lanforces 03-09 E-Book
    ProcurementMinistry Process of Home elaborated Affairs Elements • Eventsʼ • Reference IDS Headquartersʼ - Special Insertrole in I s s u e 3 • 2 0 0 9 V o l 6 N o 3 • Indiaʼs Homeland Security & IN THIS EDITION - � ������������ AN SP GUIDE PUBLICATION ����������� ���������������������� � ����� �������� � ������ ����������� SP’s ONE OF THE KEY SPONSORS OF DEFCOM 2009 ORGANISED BY INDIAN ARMY & CII � ������� � ����������� 2008 ������������������� ������������������� 2009 � ������ 2008 ������������������������������������������������������������������� 2009 ����������������������������������������� 45 YEARS FINAL.indd 1 4/7/09 5:47:33 PM ��������������� ����������������������� ������������������������ ����������������������������������������������� ��������������� WWW.SPSLANDFORCES.NET SP's MYB 0809 CVR01.indd 1 Land4/20/09 3:20:57 PM ForcesROUNDUP Turn to page 13 In This Issue T h e ONLY journal in Asia dedicated to Land Forces Internet Protocol India is all set to join “Since the Indian army is Security is complex the Ballistic Missile so large and do not have evolutionary process and Defence club. The recent an unlimited budget, you an important aspect of successful test-fire of an must take advantage of military communications. interceptor system shows the legacy equipment It assumes greater that a workable missile already in the field, importance in view of defence shield for the and construct a Battle the operationally country is not a long Management System sensitive data conveyed. way off. that can utilise that technology.”—DANIEL LT COLONEL LT GENERAL (RETD) VERWIEL, Director, BMS 13 S. NATARAJAN 4 S.R.R. AIYENGAR 8 DSD, Northrop Grumman Editorial Face to Face The Indian electorate has once again proved its maturity and wis- dom. The Congress-led UPA has been given an adequate majority and a fresh mandate to govern at a time when the country is facing serious challenges in the fields of human resource development, infrastructure and economic development, and national security.
    [Show full text]
  • Monthly Current Affairs Consolidation
    Current Affairs (CONSOLIDATION) JUNE 2021 (PART – II) Drishti, 641, First Floor, Dr. Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi-110009 Phone: 87501 87501, WhatsApp: 92058 85200, IVR: 8010-440-440 Email: [email protected] Contents Polity and Governance ........................................................................................................1 zz Redefining Boundaries of UAPA: Delhi High Court ................................................................................................. 1 zz Right to Reservation in Promotions for PwDs ........................................................................................................ 2 zz Recusal of Judges .................................................................................................................................................... 3 zz Petition to Poll Results ............................................................................................................................................ 4 zz Controversial Role of Governors ............................................................................................................................ 5 zz Attorney General of India ....................................................................................................................................... 6 zz Supreme Court’s Ruling on ONORC System for Migrant Workers.......................................................................... 7 zz Electronic Weighing Machines at Fair Price Shops ................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • India's 1St Floating Test Range Ready, Ballistic Missile Defence Trials On
    Sun, 27 Oct 2019 India’s 1st floating test range ready, ballistic missile defence trials on cards Designed by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), the new FTR is a 10,000 tonne ship, 200 metres long and 60 metres wide, equipped with state-of-the art electro-optical missile tracking (EOTS), S-band radar tracking and telemetry devices apart from a launch pad, a launch control and mission control centre. By Shishor Gupta India is set to test its ballistic missile defence (BMD) Phase II interceptor missiles and other futuristic weapons next year with its first floating test range (FTR) in place to allow trials at different ranges without a land mass limitation or threat to the population. Only a select group of nations has FTR capability. Designed by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), the new FTR is a 10,000 tonne ship, 200 metres long and 60 metres wide, equipped with state-of-the art electro-optical missile tracking (EOTS), S-band radar tracking and telemetry devices apart from a launch pad, a launch control and mission control centre. While the missile establishment is tight-lipped about the FTR, Hindustan Times has learnt that the ship will be able to launch conventional missiles upto a range of 1,500 kilometres from a distance of 400 to 500 nautical miles in the sea without fear of the weapons threatening any populated area on India’s east coast. The FTR will not be used for testing the Agni series of ballistic missiles as it is not designed to handle the thrust of a long-range weapon.
    [Show full text]