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‘Top DRDO and Army officers wrongfully sanctioned Defence projects’

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Prateek Goyal=Monday, April 2, 2018, Sakal Times
Pune: PK Mehta, Director General of city-based Armament and Combat Engineering Systems (ACE), a Defence Research and Development Organisation establishment, and Major General Ajay Gupta, Director of Ahmednagar-based Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE) are facing allegations that they have misused their financial powers for sanctioning of fallacious defence projects costing Rs 93 crore.

 “Projects worth Rs 93 crore sanctioned allegedly without Army requirement”

A complaint was received by the Prime Minister Office and DRDO HQ, Ministry of Defence, about sanctioning of projects without project requirement from user – the Army in this case. The matter was reported by a serving officer of Indian Army to MOD and PMO.

The complaint letter dated March 11 states that the three defence projects were aggressively pursued by Gupta and sanctioned by Mehta in later half of 2017, without any requirement from the Army.

Corruption in DRDO
A highly placed source in DRDO lab, on condition of anonymity, told Sakal Times that the process of sanctioning of technology demonstration projects in DRDO has become very casual. The projects are being sanctioned without issuance of PSQRs from users’ (Army, Navy, Air Force) participation and requirement. He said, “It’s high time the Ministry conducts an enquiry in sanctioning of projects as there is lot of corruption going on in DRDO.

The sanctioning authority with Mehta is Rs 50 crore per project while Gupta’s power is Rs 5 crore per project. Together they have sanctioned projects worth Rs 93.67 crore.”

Mehta’s defence
When Sakal Times contacted Mehta, he said, “Many a times, users are not aware of the technology so there are projects which are sanctioned without their requirement. It is sanctioned only after being reviewed by various experts. Even after the sanctioning, we have to look for the outcome, because in research and development there are chances that a project can be a failure.”

“Interest of nation is most important and we have to be independent in the manufacturing of defence projects and we are working on it under ‘Make in India’ programme of government,” added Mehta.

Despite repeated attempts to contact Gupta on phone and through texts, he was not available for comment.

Experts fume
KK Mishra, Joint Director (Retd), DRDO, said, “How can they sanction the projects without requirement from users. Defence projects are not some college projects one should remember that huge amount of money is invested in them. Participation of user is required before sanctioning of such projects. Many a times senior authorities sanction such projects for their own benefits. In past also people have sanctioned projects and gained monetary benefits from them.”

Defence expert Lt Gen DB Shekatkar (Retd) said, “It is surprising that a project has been sanctioned without requirement of user. For procurement of any armament or equipment for armed forces, user requirement is necessary. Such matters should be inquired into by Army headquarters.”

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Army Two Star General made mockery of Indian Army’s reputation in DRDO

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To                                                                                                           27th March 2018

General Bipin Rawat,

Army chief

Army Headquarter, South Block,

DHQ P.O, New Delhi 110011

Subject: Army Two Star General made mockery of Indian Army’s reputation in DRDO.

Sir,

In the name of Services Interaction, DRDO has service officers from all three wings of the armed forces. The officers are posted on a tenure basis.

It is observed that in DRDO more than 90% services officers are assigned logistic/ administrative jobs like Security Officer, Motor Transport Officer, Estate Manager, Material Management and managing scientists officers mess/canteen requirements, etc.

Some smart services officers who are involved in DRDO’s scientists’ bluff game are able to get permanent absorption in the organization and enjoy services as well as the scientist sticker.

But sincere services officers face a lot of embarrassment from the corrupt scientist herd. They face unprecedented transfers in their short tenure, negative remarks on their service records only because they perform the job assigned honestly. For all these unfair means DRDO takes help of senior services officers who are permanently absorbed and are enjoying all kinds of benefits along with the corrupt scientists.

Since the last 30 years, DRDO has not been able to quote a single services officer who has contributed to any remarkable technical contribution to the nation through DRDO (except the services doctors).

The important part of these absorbed services officers is that they are promoted unduly without contribution to the nation or services. Only thing that they protect are the bluffers.

Only one example to prove the aforementioned is Maj. Gen. Ajay Gupta, present Director, VRDE, DRDO, Ahmednagar. If anyone sees his journey in DRDO, he will know how blessed the Maj. Gen. is because of saving culprit scientist as long as he was serving tenure as Director Vigilance, DRDO, HQ. Of the hundreds of complaints filed, he stopped or delayed multiple cases. This reveals the truth about how corruption flourishes in DRDO with the help of service officers.

Maj. Gen. Ajay Gupta, present Director, VRDE, DRDO, Ahmednagar made mockery of Indian Army reputation on 15th February 2018.

As reported by Sakal Times “CBI to probe Major Gen’s role in security breach at VRDE” March 14, 2018”

It is a very serious matter that active Army Maj. Gen, who was earlier served as Director Vigilance & Security. DRDO HQ for long tenure did this misadventure.

As per Sakal Times “When contacted, Maj Gen Gupta said, “I did not conduct any meeting with those foreign nationals. They came to VRDE without any clearance, which is why I went to the gate to turn them back.”

Above statement of Maj Gen Gupta is totally wrong because as per evidences for telling no for meeting he can pass the massage through Security or if he wants to say no personally, how come conveying the same took 30 minutes. 

15th Feb 2018 Dhound Gate, VRDE, DRDO, Ahemadnagar

Foreigners reached at Dhound Gate, VRDE, DRDO, Ahemadnagar-           10:29:56

Director reached in his flag car at Dhound Gate, VRDE. Ahemadnagar-    10:33:12

Something dumped in Foreigner’s vehicle without security         –              10:44:44

Director back in his flag car from Dhound Gate, VRDE Ahemadnagar-      11:00:43 

Maj. Gen spend time with two foreign nationals almost                  –  27.31 Minutes

Second one most important evidence not highlight in news clip that is at 10:44:44 hrs, 15th Feb 2018 Cam – 3 of Dhound gate recorded that some stuff was dumped in foreigner’s white car by VRDE personals, Maj Gen Ajay Gupta was present there  in meeting with foreign national.(Evidence – 12)

As per CCTV recording one local vehicle dealer was present in above said meeting as per sources he was only organized the meeting which itself explanatory that Maj Gen Ajay Gupta very much involve personally with vendors/dealer etc.

Therefore, for the clean reputation of Indian Army a serious inquiry is needed, CBI, IB, MI are have their own course but Army Headquarter should deal this matter in high level. Because the Maj Gen Ajay Gupta approached DRDO Hqrs to send a denial to media on this issue fortunately it did not work since Maj Gen Ajay Gupta was enjoying the post of Dir. Vig & Security for a long time and have lot of inputs of wrong doings of high level DRDO official so he will try to bury the incident and influence the enquiry.

As a citizen of India and tax payer I request you to take appropriate action on above said incident and set exemplary precedent for service officers who are serving in DRDO and working against national interest. Hope we will soon be able to see our grate army practice to dealt such serious security/corruption matter which can dent our national interest

With great hope, Jaihind

Regards

Prabhu Dandriyal,

21-Sunderwala, Raipur,

Dehradun-248008

Phone – 0135-2787750 | Mobile – 9411114879

Email – prabhudoon@gmail.com | website – www.corruptionindrdo.com

 

Enclosed:  recorded evidence of incident

 Copy to

  1. Smt Nirmala Sitharaman, Defence Minister, 104- South Block, New Delhi-110011
  2. Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI), Indian Army Hq Of MoD, South Block, New Delhi -110011

 

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Army moves to court martial officer accused of sexually abusing subordinate

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By Pradip R. Sagar March 24, 2018 -THE WEEK

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman with a group of women Army officers | Facebook account of Indian Army’s ADGPI

The Indian Army has initiated court martial proceedings against the former commanding officer of a Alwar-based military unit after a 27-year-old woman Army captain levelled allegations of sexual harassment against the officer.

Captain Poonam (name changed) joined the Army’s Signals Corps as a technical officer in 2013.

In August 2015, she filed a sexual harassment complaint against the commanding officer of her unit while she was posted at the Alwar military station in Rajasthan.

In her complaint to higher authorities, the woman officer alleged that her commanding officer started sexually abusing her soon after joining her unit. He allegedly touched her private parts and made remarks like “Do you have a boyfriend?”

When her complaint went unheeded, the victim wrote to then Army chief general Dalbir Singh Suhag, saying she approached him “bypassing all channels for redressal of my grievances because an earlier attempt through proper channel failed to provide justice.”

In fact, her father wrote to then defence minister Manohar Parrikar by making an emotional appeal, “If this is the way the Indian Army treats its daughters, I’m not sure if any parent will ever send their daughters to the Army.”

Eventually, Army Headquarters started a court of inquiry in late 2015, when her issue was highlighted by the national media.

After two years of extensive proceedings of the court of inquiry and subsequently the summary of evidences, which established prima facie guilt of the commanding officer, court martial proceedings were ordered to commence from Saturday (March 24).

“General Court Martial of the former Commanding Officer of 12 Field Sub area will commence from March 24,” an Army order stated; the order mentions two brigadiers have been made witnesses.

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CBI to probe Major Gen’s role in security breach at VRDE

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Prateek Goyal
Tuesday, 13 March 2018
‌An official at the CBI office, Pune, requesting anonymity, said, “Initially we are going to conduct an inquiry and if there is any substantial proof, we are going to register a complaint and conduct an open inquiry.”
PUNE: A complaint was submitted to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Pune office, on Sunday against the Director of Vehicle Research & Development Establishment (VRDE), Ahmednagar, Maj Gen Ajay Gupta, for allegedly compromising the safety and security of the defence establishment.

He was accused of conducting a 30-minute meeting on February 15 with two foreign nationals and a non-resident Indian, along with officials of a private company, without taking security clearance from the Directorate of Vigilance and Security, New Delhi, a mandatory rule for all DRDO officials prior to meeting any foreign national in any capacity.

VRDE, Ahmednagar is a laboratory of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) which deals with research, design, development of specialist defence vehicles and is considered to be a highly restricted zone.

An official at the CBI office, Pune, requesting anonymity, said, “Initially we are going to conduct an inquiry and if there is any substantial proof, we are going to register a complaint and conduct an open inquiry.”

THE COMPLAINT
The complaint was initiated  by the security officer to VRDE, appointed by Army Headquarters in New Delhi.

According to the copy of the complaint letter available with Sakal Times, on February 15, at 10 am, the security officer, who is also an army officer, received a call from the security staff at Daund Gate of VRDE, informing him that two foreigners had arrived with representatives of a private company.  The caller stated they were asked by the personal assistant (PA) of the Director to be allowed to enter the complex.

However, the security officer refused to allow them in as they didn’t have the necessary clearance from the office of Directorate Vigilance and Security HQ, New Delhi. Though Gupta pressurised the security staff through his PA, he couldn’t succeed.

The complaint states that at 10.30 am, Gupta compromised the security of VRDE and went outside Daund Gate, where he conducted a half-an-hour meeting with the visitors, which is a security breach and violation of instructions promulgated by the handbook of instructions on Vigilance and Security and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).

When contacted, Maj Gen Gupta said, “I did not conduct any meeting with those foreign nationals. They came to VRDE without any clearance, which is why I went to the gate to turn them back.”

VIOLATION OF RULE
A source in DRDO said, “Maj Gen Gupta didn’t follow the SOP. Details of foreigners, including their passport copies, are required for clearance. Even if you are meeting foreigners at their hotel or residence, prior permission is required. A DRDO official cannot meet a foreigner in any capacity without permission, because we deal with the research and development of weapons, as well as other products for our armed forces, and divulging any such information can compromise our national security.”

KK Mishra, retired Joint Director, VRDE, said, “Gupta himself was once director of Vigilance and Security, how can he commit a mistake like this? VRDE does research work on secret projects and there are possibilities that the foreigners you are meeting can be spies, that is why such strict measures are taken.”

A DRDO official, requesting anonymity, said , “Why did the director have to go to gate to turn back any foreign national and why did he spend half an hour over there? It is the duty of security officer or guard on duty to inform visitors to leave the gate area, and not of the Director.”

WHAT THE RULEBOOK SAYS
– According to the handbook of instructions on Vigilance and Security and Standard Operating Procedures, DRDO officials cannot meet any foreigner in any capacity without permission of Directorate of Vigilance and Security.
– Application for security clearance in respect of foreign nationals of prior reference countries should be forwarded to the Directorate at least six weeks before their visit, whereas for foreign nationals of all countries, it should reach the Directorate at least 10 days ahead.
– Meeting with foreign nationals in DRDO establishments can be held only after obtaining security clearance from DRDO HQ. Interaction/ meeting should be avoided at DRDO guest house/ transit facilities.
– No foreign national is allowed to stay at DRDO guest house.

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DRDO lab in Pune provided key parts for Agni-5

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Written by Sushant Kulkarni | Pune |Published: January 19, 2018 5:40 am

The Indian Express

THE nuclear-capable Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Agni-5, which was successfully test-fired on Thursday, included significant contributions by DRDO’s Pune-based High Energy Material Research Laboratory (HEMRL) in the form of five key components. The fifth test of the missile was conducted from the Abdul Kalam Island, off the coast of Odisha, around 10 am on Thursday. The launch vehicle for the missile has been developed by Ahmednagar-based Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE).

A senior DRDO scientist said, “HEMRL has made some key contributions to Agni-5 missile, especially related to its movement. The lab has developed the gas generator, which takes out the missile from the canister in which it is mounted. Next, the missile had three stages, and the stage separators for all three stages have been designed by the HEMRL. These stage separators consist of linear-shaped charge explosives and separation motors.”

The scientist added, “The laboratory has also contributed the three retarding motors, which are used to slow down the separated part, so that they do not hit each other. The missile also needs to do course correction in between and for that, the side thrust motors have been contributed by HEMRL. Finally, the nose dome separation mechanism, which comes into action in the last stages, has also been developed by the lab.”

The DRDO official said, “The special vehicle on which the 50-tonne missile is mounted, and which provides good mobility, has been designed by VRDE in Ahmednagar
Another scientist said, “The missile, which has a range 5,000 to 6,000 km, can reach the northern-most tip of China. Roughly speaking, Agni-1,2 and 3 were mainly designed considering Pakistan, while 4 and 5 are mainly designed for China. The earlier four tests of the Agni-5 were conducted in 2012, 2013, 2015 and December 2016. After every test, detailed feedback were given to individual labs and adequate changes were made. After more user trials are conducted, the missile will be inducted into the Strategic Forces Command.”

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Christopher lost his grip on DRDO top officials

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To                                                                                              5th March 2018
Hon’ble Smt Nirmala Sitharaman,
Defence Minister,
104- South Block
New Delhi-110011

Subject:   Dr Christopher lost his grip on DRDO top officials who leave no opportunity to show their illegal might even at the cost of the image & reputation of DRDO as an organization of MOD, Govt. of India.

Madam,

DRDO secretary Dr Christopher severely failed to manage DRDO HR problems. Everyday DRDO is witnessing the high level drama of unethical transfers and superseding games on the basis of linguistics or corruption equations. Can you believe that a Director General is fighting for his promotion in CAT, several scientists are victimized in the form of unjustified APAR numbers, DPCs for promotions have not been conducted in last two years on flimsy pretexts, Employees of DRDO are compelled to take the recourse of avoidable litigations on similar law points to unnecessary harass them, officials of DRDO are made scapegoats if they request for  redressal of their genuine service matter grievances . if you ask DRDO scientists to write their grievances without any fear  of any one to you then you will get  flood  of complaints regarding deliberately created  HR problems in entire DRDO, MoD

Please ask Dr Christopher, how many cases are pending of sexual harassment in DRDO and for how long; how many cases are pending of SC/ST/ Minority commission harassment in DRDO and for how long. Interestingly the DG, HR in DRDO is a women but she is responsible for the delay in genuine sexual harassment cases like ITM Mussoorie, IRDE, Dehradun & prompt in pursuing the false sexual harassment cases made under conspiracy like sexual harassment case against Shri PARBIR Verma, Sc, F of DMSRDE, Kanpur, unjustified APAR Marks specially in the APARs of women scientists. Women Scientists are harassed on the basis of gender bias taking one or the other pretext like Scientist C’ of SAG, Delhi Sumitra Singh, ‘has been issued charge sheet for Major penalty in Feb. 2018 on trifling issue of proceeding USA  to look after her ailing 05 years son before receipt of the N-O-C although she applied for N-O-C before her onward journey to USA.

28th Feb at 5:40, a drama was witnessed by a number of employees of Joint Cipher Bureau, Office gate. Near Metcalfe House, Delhi showing entire DRDO in poor light . whistle blower Sh Prakash Singh,  Senior Admin Officer Grade –I  was  illegally not allowed  to enter the JCB, Main office  campus, Delhi & he was  even man handled by JCB security officers  namely  by  Shri Dinesh Kumr & by  Shri A K Mehta  when he wanted to know the ground of banning his entry in the JCB, Main office Campus situated at Metcalfe House, Delhi. Sh Prakash Singh,Senior Admin Officer Grade –I wanted to go to  attend a retirement party of his colleague Sh R K Sharma, Sc, D but Director  Shri R K Jain  gave oral   Illegal instruction to security  officers for restricting the entry of whistle blower  Sh Prakash Singh in  JCB, Main office, Campus , Delhi to humiliate  him. The said Security Officers have become the conduit for all illegal acts & omissions of  Shri R K Jain, present Director of JCB, Delhi  &  as a quid pro quo they do not  need to do their Security duty  at the mandated place which  had already resulted in a stealing & house breaking incident in the office building of  one of the sensitive Wing of JCB, Delhi  situated in Delhi  in the night of 30-03-2017 which further resulted in no work in the said sensitive wing of JCB, Delhi for last at least 10 months & formal F. I. R. has not  been registered by either by Shri R K Jain ,Director, JCB, Delhi or by Shri A K Mehta, Security officer  in this regard. Many complaints of corruptions against Shri R K Jain are pending in DRDO, Delhi without any action & an order passed by Shri Arun Jaitely, the then RM  in June 2017 to initiate a disciplinary proceeding against Shri   R K Jain  in one another matter is kept dormant for last 09 months  due to  the reasons  best known to the present Secretary himself.

Whistle Blower Shri Prakash Singh , Senior Admin Officer Grade –I, posted in Joint Cipher Bureau, DRDO  has been illegally denied the entry in his duty place at JCB, Main Office, Delhi since 11-12-2017 to till to date  to keep secret & concealed the acts & omissions of corruption deliberately committed by Shri R K Jain & by his coterie  as reported by the Whisle blower twice in 2017 to none other than the Hon’ble RM . The whistle Blower Sr. A. O. Grade -1 has been hoping against hope for last more than 03 months to let the good sense prevail in the mind of  Shri R K Jain ,aristocrat director of JCB, Delhi for his entry in his duty place . He has sought time to meet in this regard twice through his representations dated 19-12-2017 & dated 23-01-2018 submitted to the present RM but of no avail. he even submitted his representation dated 22-12-2017 to Shri Zakwan Ahmed, present DG (R&M) , DRDO HQ, N.Delhi but again of no avail. He even met 2-3 times to Shri Gopal Bhusan, present DOP, DRDO HQ & he also met present secretary, DDR&D on 03-01-2018 to redress his genuine service matter long  Grievances & the Secretary even assured him to redress his Grievance mentioned in his representation dated 16-10-2017 with in next 15 days i. e. by 18-01-2018 but he did nothing to redress the service matter Grievances  & to remove  the deliberate illegality continuously committed in last 03 months in the form of illegally banning the entry of the whisle blower in his place of duty.   The CVC advised the CVO of MOD thrice through its 03 O Ms sent in 2016 to  the CVO, MOD to restore posting of the Whistle blower Shri Prakash Singh  in LASTEC, Delhi against his 03 vindictive transfers issued in 2016 but the present Secretary, present & the then  & present DOPs, DRDO HQ & the then & present  DG (HRs) had not taken any action to protect the service interest of the Whistle Blower & to implement the Advice of the CVC. The Whistle Blower  has been continuously harassed in one or the other form either by not assigning him his charter of duties  or by restricting his entry in his duty place .The then RM considered Shri PRAKASH SINGH as Whistle Blower   on the Advice of CVC & quashed the  Major penalty inflicted upon him vide DRDO HQ Order dated 30-12-2012 on false charges . The then RM even ordered  vide MOD ID No. PCto 470/ /DO(Vig)/2012 dated 19-10-2015  that those who trumped up false charges & committed a number of procedural irregularities with a single minded objective of harassing Shri PRAKASH SINGH , the then SAO-II needs to be identified & taken to the task for their mala-fide action.& action int his regard may be taken immediately & D(Vig) also be informed of the action taken in the matter on fortnightly basis.  Stiil no action has been taken against any of the officials of DRDO, MOD as yet although the Whistle Blower submitted the names of 22 officials of DRDO, MOD vide his through proper channel complaint dated 28-12-2015 submitted to the then RM who illegally harassed him & the present Secretary , present DG (ECS),   the then & present Director (Vigilance & Security) , DRDO HQ ,the then & present  DOPs,& the then & present DG(HR) DRDO HQ, New Delhi during October 2015 to till to date  have tried their best  save the Prime Facie guilty officials of DRDO, MOD who illegally harassed the whistle blower.

07 confidential complaints submitted by the Whistle Blower  in November 2017 to the present RM have been kept unactioned in DRDO HQ   for last more than 03 months  to demoralize the Whistle Blower. These facts speak volume about the state of affairs going on in DRDO, MOD particularly with regard to the HR matters.

The poor tax payer’s lakhs & lakhs of money is being wasted by this Director and Dr Christopher has no time to solve the issues.

Madam, as citizen of India it is not understandable why the HR practices of this premier organization are the way they are. Although  our honorable prime minister already sensed in a first look that this organization Motto is “Chalta Hai” and the hundreds of court cases, neck deep corruption(specially please ask construction expenses year wise), highly prevailing nepotism (anyone can see the incompetent frog jumps) itself is self explanatory.

It is therefore requested, to honorable defence minister madam, since you also find some issues on your table,  to kindly  make a serious effort to improve the HR conditions in DRDO lest it goes to complete collapse.

With great hope, Jaihind

Regards

Regards

Prabhu Dandriyal,

21-Sunderwala, Raipur,

Dehradun-248008

Phone – 0135-2787750 | Mobile – 9411114879

Email – prabhudoon@gmail.com | website – www.corruptionindrdo.com

Another officials fight at DMSRDE, Kanpur.

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Rustom-II takes to skies as mystery over transfer of its project director continues

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By Pradip R. Sagar February 26, 2018 THE WEEK
Over a month after ‘unceremonious departure’ of the project director of Rustom-II drone A.P.V.S. Prasad, DRDO on Sunday carried out test flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in Challakere in Karnataka’s Chitradurga district.

After the test, DRDO came out with a statement that a medium-altitude long-endurance UAV was “successful”.

However, colleagues of Prasad—“scientist-G”who was made project director of the Rustom-II UAV programme of DRDO in 2015—are still curious to know the reason behind Prasad’s sudden transfer from the project, which he actually revived. Insiders claim that Prasad’s departure was linked to his objection to the lobby, which was pushing for a particular engine for the Rustom-II. Rustom was being developed with an Austrian engine, but a few people in the organisation wanted to replace it with the engine made by an Indian firm, despite the engine’s failure to meet the ‘technical parameters’ to be used in the UAV.

Sensing foul play, Scientists Association of Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE)—DRDO’s laboratory making the UAVs—has approached Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to look into the matter (copy of the letter is with The WEEK). Following the complaint, a discreet inquiry is being conducted by the intelligence agencies.

On January 16, 2018, DRDO’s headquarters issued an order for transfer of Prasad to an another DRDO lab on grounds of “public interest”. Incidentally, Prasad was honoured with the best scientist award in 2017.

According to the letter from the ADE association, Prasad, who was in the DRDO for over 30 years, was promoted as the programme director of coveted Rustom-II in 2015. He actually rejuvenating the project, which was lying in a pathetic condition, and within a year of taking over, he managed to carry out first test flight of Rustom-II, the letter reveals.

When contacted, DRDO spokesperson Manish Bhardwaj declined to comment on the issue saying “he was unaware of the internal developments”.

On Sunday, DRDO came out with a statement saying “DRDO successfully flew its Rustom 2 today at its Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) at Chalakere at Chitradurga. This flight assumes significance due to the fact that this is the first flight in user configuration with higher power engine.”

Unarmed drone Rustom-II is being developed to carry out surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) roles for the armed forces with an endurance of 24 hours, on the lines of Predator drone of the US forces.

According to the officials, Rustom-II is capable of carrying different combinations of payloads like synthetic aperture radar, electronic intelligence systems and situational awareness payloads.

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DRDO successfully carries out test flight of Rustom-2 drone

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PTI | Updated: Feb 25, 2018 , Times of India
                                                                                          HIGHLIGHTS
* Rustom 2 is being developed on the lines of predator drones of the US to carry out surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) roles for the armed forces with an endurance of 24 hours
*Rustom 2 is capable of carrying different combinations of payloads like synthetic aperture radar, electronic intelligence systems and situational awareness payloads

NEW DELHI: India’s premier defence research institute DRDO today carried out “successful” test flight of its Rustom 2 drone, a medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), at Chalakere in Karnataka’s Chitradurga district.
Rustom 2 is being developed on the lines of predator drones of the US to carry out surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) roles for the armed forces with an endurance of 24 hours, officials said.
“DRDO successfully flew its Rustom 2 today at its Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) at Chalakere at Chitradurga. This flight assumes significance due to the fact that this is the first flight in user configuration with higher power engine,” a statement read.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said the test flight was “successful” and all its parameters were “normal”.
Rustom 2 is capable of carrying different combinations of payloads like synthetic aperture radar, electronic intelligence systems and situational awareness payloads, officials said.
DRDO chairman S Christopher, its Director General of Aeronautical System CP Ramanarayanan, DG Electronics and Communication Systems J Manjula and other senior scientists witnessed the test flight.
The around Rs 1,500-crore UAV project was initiated considering requirement of the the Army, Navy and Air Force.
The UAV has been designed and developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) of the DRDO, and aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and Bharat Electronics Ltd are its production partners.

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DRDO drone crash-lands on farmer’s land in Karnakata

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TNN | Updated: Feb 22, 2018,


                                                                   

 

 

 

 

 

NEW DELHI: An unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) being tested by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) crash-landed on an agricultural plot in Nayakanahatti, near Challakere in Chitradurga district, about 200km away from the state capital.
The drone, which had a camera attached to it, was launched to keep a watch on the outer perimeter of the Chitradurga Aeronautical Test Range (CATR).
Sources said the aircraft took off from the facility and later lost contact with the command centre. No injury or damage was reported.

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India test-fires medium range nuclear capable Agni-II missile

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Times of India, PTI | Feb 20, 2018,
BALASORE: India on Tuesday test-fired its medium range nuclear capable Agni-II missile with a strike range of 2,000km from Abdul Kalam Island off Odisha coast, defence sources said.
The trial of the surface-to-surface missile was conducted from a mobile launcher at the launch complex-4 of the integrated test range (ITR) at around 8.38am, the sources said.
The Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) has already been inducted into the services and Tuesday’s test was carried out by the Army’s strategic forces command (SFC) with logistic support provided by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), they said.
The 20-mt-long Agni-II ballistic missile has a launch weight of 17 tonne and can carry a payload of 1,000kg over a distance of 2,000km.
The state-of-the-art missile, already a part of the country’s arsenal for strategic deterrence, was launched as a training exercise by the armed forces, a DRDO scientist said.
Agni-II, a two-stage missile, equipped with advanced high accuracy navigation system and guided by a unique command and control system, was propelled by solid rocket propellant system, he said.
The entire trajectory of the trial was tracked by a battery of sophisticated radars, telemetry observation stations, electro-optic instruments and two naval ships located near the impact point in the down range area of the Bay of Bengal.
Agni-II was developed by the advanced systems laboratory along with other DRDO laboratories and integrated by the Bharat Dynamics Limited, Hyderabad, sources said.
The missile is part of the Agni series of missiles which includes the Agni-I with a 700km range, Agni-III with a 3,000km range, Agni-IV and Agni-V both having long range capabilities.
The first proto type of the Agni-II missile was carried out on April 11, 1999 and last launch was a user’s trial on May 4, 2017.