‘Navigation Scientist’ Satheesh Reddy was serving as the scientific adviser to defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
New Delhi: After a delay of nearly three months, the Modi government has finally appointed eminent missile scientist G. Satheesh Reddy as full-time chief of the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), India’s premier defence research body.
A distinguished scientist known for his contribution to research and development of missile systems and advancement of aerospace technologies and industries in India, Reddy was serving as the scientific adviser to defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), led by the prime minister, cleared his name Saturday as chairman, DRDO and secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development (DDR&D), under the Ministry of Defence.
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Delay in appointment
Until the posts of DRDO chairman and scientific adviser to defence minister were one, the norm followed by ACC to name the incoming chief was to usually make the announcement a month ahead of the incumbent’s retirement. In 2015, then defence minister Manohar Parrikar separated the two posts.
As reported by ThePrint earlier, Reddy was the top contender for the job, both in terms of seniority as well as overall service experience. Other DRDO candidates included Sudhir Mishra, director general, BrahMos Missile System Division, P.K. Mehta, director general, Armament and Combat Engineering Systems and J. Manjula, director general, Electronics & Communication Systems.
Defence secretary Sanjay Mitra was holding additional charge as DRDO chief after S. Christopher, who also served as DDR&D secretary, retired on 31 May. Christopher’s term had been extended by a year in 2017.
Sources said massive lobbying and the setting up of a search committee delayed the appointment. The delay was also hampering crucial flagship defence programmes under Make in India, added the sources.
‘Proponent of indigenous programme’
Speaking about the new DRDO chief, a senior official who has worked with him said Reddy has a modern approach to defence research. “He is also a big proponent of the indigenous programmes of the government in the defence sector. It will go a long way under him,” the official said.
Reddy was one of the youngest ever scientific advisers to the defence minister.
Renowned as a navigation scientist, Reddy led the conceptualisation, design, development and production of inertial sensors, navigation schemes, algorithms systems, calibration methodologies, sensor models, simulation along with the development of satellite navigation receivers and hybrid navigation systems, according to DRDO information.
Advanced products and varieties of avionics systems were produced and successfully flight-tested in strategic programmes of the country under him.
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The government recently enhanced the powers of the DRDO chairman, stating that the incumbent would now be able to sanction projects and procurement up to Rs 150 crore.