Tag Archives: ADE

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

February 26, 2018 Prabhu 1 Comment

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 lab up in arms against scientist’s transfer

January 28, 2018 Prabhu 10 Comments

By ABHINANDAN MISHRA | New Delhi | 28 January, 2018 Sunday Guardian

The employees of the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), which is regarded as one of the most distinguished labs of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), are up in arms against what they have called arbitrary transfer of a scientist who last year was named the “best lab scientist of DRDO”.

According to ADE officials, the said scientist, who has been working with the DRDO for 30 years, is being victimised for not agreeing with his seniors who wanted materials for a project to be procured from a particular company, despite the said company not matching the requirements of the project.

On 16 January 2018, on the ground of “public interest”, A.P.V.S. Prasad, “scientist-G”, who was made the project director of the coveted RUSTOM-II UAV programme of the DRDO in 2015, was moved out of the ADE to another DRDO lab in Bangalore without any notice and without taking the permission from his director.

However, official sources said that Prasad was being pressurised to give his permission to procure products for the UAV programme from a company whose product did not match the requirements of the project and when he did not relent, he was transferred.

Prasad has been credited with making sure that the much delayed India’s UAV programme got the needed push. Within two years of Prasad taking over the project, RUSTOM-II completed its maiden flight, earning him the best DRDO scientist award in 2017. An angry employees’ union of the ADE has now approached Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to intervene in the matter. Speaking to The Sunday Guardian, S. Narayanappa, who is president of the ADE civilian employees’ union, said that discriminatory transfers like this affect the morale of the scientists.

“I have been trying to speak to Dr S. Christopher (chairman of DRDO) on this issue but he is not taking my calls or responding to our messages. It was due to this that we were forced to approach the Defence Minister directly. Prasad is a very capable scientist which is clear from the work that he has done. His transfer, without taking even his director into confidence, is shocking. We are still awaiting a response from the Defence Minister. You can just imagine the kind of damage these kinds of things do to an official’s morale. He was offered multiple employment opportunities from various private corporate entities to head their division but he rejected them all,” Narayanappa said.

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Extension for Nirbhay, panel to identify flaws

January 8, 2017 Prabhu Leave a comment

By Hemant Kumar Rout | Express News Service | Published: 07th January 2017
BHUBANESWAR: India’s own cruise missile project Nirbhay has got an extension of 18 months amid speculations over the weapon system’s operational capabilities. Launched in 2004, the projected date of completion for the prestigious project was December 31 last.

At a recent review meeting, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar gave green signal for the extension. Ministry of Defence sources said the Nirbhay team has been asked to deliver their best by June, 2018.

Under developmental trial since 2013, the missile is yet to perform as per the expectations. Of four tests in as many years, the indigenously developed weapon had failed three times though it could cover the intended range once in 2014.

Meanwhile, an independent technical committee has been formed to identify faults in the system that led to failure of the missile during its fourth trial on December 21.

The probe committee led by founder director of ISRO Inertial Systems Unit Dr Nagarajan Vedachalam will not only ascertain the faults but also recommend possible measures to make the system robust.

Like in its maiden trial and third test, the missile had veered off the trajectory minutes after take off during the last launch and the mission had to be aborted mid-air.

An official associated with the project, however, informed that the blame game between two laboratories of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) cost the project more than the faults in the system.

While Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), which has designed the missile, has been blaming Research Centre Imarat (RCI) for supplying defective hardware, the latter points fingers at ADE-developed software for recurring failure of the missile.

‘’The probe committee will ascertain which is defective, the software or hardware. It may also inspect metallurgical deficiencies,’’ the sources said.

Having a strike range of around 1,000 km, Nirbhay is first homegrown subsonic cruise missile project. According to DRDO, the missile can challenge weapons of its class.

Nirbhay blasts off like a rocket and unlike a missile, it turns into a vehicle akin an aircraft. Flying at tree-top level, it can deceive enemy radars making it difficult to be detected. Unlike other ballistic missiles, this cruise missile has wings and distinct tail fins. After reaching near the target area, it can hover around, hitting at its will from any direction.

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DRDO’s cruise missile project Nirbhay on verge of closure

December 23, 2016 Prabhu Leave a comment

**Nirbhay is the country’s first indigenously built long-range sub-sonic cruise missile | EPS**

By Hemant Kumar Rout | Express News Service | Published: 23rd December 2016
BHUBANESWAR: Once a pride for Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), India’s own cruise missile project Nirbhay is on the verge of closure.
A highly placed source told ‘The New Indian Express’ that the project is likely to be closed as the missile has failed to deliver desired results even 12 years after the project was launched. A review of the project will be conducted shortly.
Nirbhay is the country’s first indigenously built long-range sub-sonic cruise missile which can be compared with America’s Tomahawk in terms of its capability. Designed by Bengaluru-based Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), the missile was designed to fly at different altitudes ranging from 500 meters to four km.
Launched in 2004 at a cost of Rs 48 crore, the projected date of completion (PDC) for the prestigious project was December 31, 2016. However, under trial since 2013, the missile is yet to perform as expected after four attempts in the last four years.
The project has been plagued with difficulties as the scientists are still struggling to fix the problems in the flight control software and navigation system while some others point fingers at the hardware.
While the Research Centre Imarat (RCI) blamed ADE-developed software, ADE was pointing towards the defective hardware supplied by RCI. “However, it could not be ascertained which is defective, whether the software or hardware, but Nirbhay missile failed in its fourth attempt,” an insider said.
There has been problem with the control software since beginning. The RCI had developed navigational hardware for their applications and it was adopted by ADE for Nirbhay. There are always differences between ADE and RCI regarding its functional efficacy, the source claimed.
Defence experts have raised questions on the requirement of such a subsonic missile, which can cruise at a speed of 0.8 Mach, when supersonic cruise missile BrahMos, developed jointly with Russia, is already inducted in the armed forces.
BrahMos, which flies at a speed of Mach 3, has a strike range of 290 km. Though Nirbhay can strike targets 1,000 km away, with India joining the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), it can now develop long range cruise missiles as joint ventures.
While initially the expected cost of ‘Nirbhay’ was around Rs 10 crore per piece, DRDO has so far spent more than Rs 100 crore on R&D and trials.
DRDO Chief Selvin Christopher and Project Director of Nirbhay Vasanth Sastri did not respond to the calls and queries from ‘The New Indian Express’. Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister G Satheesh Reddy, however, said he is unaware of any such move.

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Rustom-II UAV to be tested in Chitradurga

July 13, 2016 Prabhu Leave a comment

Kalyan Ray, New Delhi, Jul 11, 2016, DHNS
The first flight of India’s new combat-capable unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) Rustom-II is scheduled to be held by the end of July in Chitradurga test flight range.

Scientists at the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) would move to the test range later this week for the trial as an window between July 28 and August 2 would be kept open for the flight in the presence of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

Once ready, the medium-altitude, long-endurance (Male) UAV is likely to be an asset for the military not only for its surveillance capability, but also for its ability to be used as an unmanned armed combat vehicle in the line of the US’s Predator that New Delhi is interested to buy.

“Rustom-II is a very big platform with a range of 250 km. However, for the first flight we will be flying it up to a distance of 50-100 km,” said a source associated with the UAV’s development.

Compared to Rustom-I that was test flown for the first time in November 2009, Rustom-II will be having Electronic Intelligence, Communication Intelligence, Medium and Long-Range Electro-optic Payloads and Synthetic Aperture Radar that will enable it to see through the clouds.

“Rustom-I is a primitive vehicle with minimal capabilities. Rustom-II, on the other hand, has several capabilities, including the ability to carry weapons,” G Satheesh Reddy, Scientific Adviser to Raksha Mantri, told DH.

Once fully ready, Rustom UAVs are meant to replace Israeli Heron unmanned aerial vehicles being used by the air force and the navy. The aircraft is named after former Indian Institute of Science professor Rustom Damania, who pioneered aviation research in India in the 1980s.

Addressing a seminar on UAV in Delhi last November, an ADE official stated that the three services initially projected a requirement of 76 of these platforms.

However, like many other defence research and development organisation (DRDO) projects, Rustom-II is also facing time overrun as the production schedule, first fixed for 2016, has now been pushed to 2017 with the possibility that it may get further delayed.

The biggest challenge faced by the scientists is the excess weight of the airframe. The airframe had a weight of about 2,400 kg by 2015 end, which ADE scientists would have to bring down to about 1,700 kg in the final version for accommodating every sensor package.

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and Bharat Electronics Ltd partners DRDO in the development of Rustom-II and has committed several hundred crores as financial support.

Drdo

Use/Misuse of positional power by Dr. K. Tamilmani and his staff

June 12, 2015 Prabhu 8 Comments

To, 12 June 2015 Dr.S Christopher, DG, DRDO & Secretary DRD DRDO Bhawan, Rajaji Marg, New Delhi-110105

Subject: Use/Misuse of positional power by Dr. K. Tamilmani and his staff

Sir,

Following letter is received by website from Driver Association seeks the misuse of manpower and vehicles in ADE.

As you are visiting ADE Bangalore in coming days, please do needful appropriate action for the sake of organisation and as well for misuse of poor tax payers money.

enclosed letter fully exposed the misuse of manpower and resources of ADE and GTRE. recently The New Indian Express also covered the article regarding misuse of project vehicles as staff car. The Vigilance Directorate send a letter to all labs/estt as their letter no DVS/02/2052/P/26 dated 25 May 2015. (copy enclosed)

Interestingly, Bangalore DRDO establishment don’t bother such letters or Honorable Supreme Court Order not to put red beacon on cars. Dr.K.Tamilmani using, GTRE, Project Vehicle Toyota Innova, Sh P. Sri Kumar,Director, ADE using Toyota Innova purchased in the name of Remote Video Terminal, four Toyota Innova purchased in RUSTOM-II and one vehicle mysteriously handover to Mr Shanker, IFA deputed in Bangalore. The Toyota Innova met with accident so it is requested to initiate through inquiry for the misusing staff and project vehicles.

Regards

Prabhu Dandriyal, 21-Sunderwala, Raipur Dehradun-248008 Email prabhudoo@gmail.com website- www.corruptionindrdo.com

Enclosed:- Copy of letter received from Drivers Association

Drdo

Sources of Misuse in Procurement in ADE, Bangalore

June 5, 2015 Prabhu 4 Comments

To 5^th June 2015 Hon’ble Shri Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister, Room No -104, South Block, New Delhi-110011

Subject: Sources of Misuse in Procurement in ADE, Bangalore

Sir,

There was statement in Business Standard 3^rd June “Parrikar, who had earlier said that DPP, the framework for defence procurement, will be out by May, admitted that it will take some more time.

The DRDO officials are the best in fooling the laid down procurement process, how please go through the following letter which was received on 3^rd June 2015 with request to publish in website for common people of country to understand the reason of delays and failures of DRDO strategic projects.

It is requested to give direction to PCDA to securitize the all DRDO procurement under light of following letter which was sent by the group of nationalist, honest scientists and who are really concern about organization future.

Regards

Prabhu Dandriyal,
21-Sunderwala, Raipur, Dehradun-248008 Phone 0135- 2787750, Mobile- 9411114879, e-mail id prabhudoon@gmail.com website www.corruptionindrdo.com

Enclosed – copy of letter received by website fro ADE

copy of letter received by website from ADE

copy of letter received by website from ADE Page

ADE Rustom Modes oprendi2 — copy of letter received by website from ADE

Drdo

DEFENCE SECRET IN DANGER, DIRECTOR, DRL, DRDO, TEZPUR’s DIRECTOR SECRETARIAT MANAGED BY CONTRACTUAL LABOUR AS PERSONNEL SECRETARY

April 28, 2015 Prabhu 23 Comments

To 27^th April 2015 Hon’ble Shri Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister,Room No -104, South Block, New Delhi-110011

SUBJECT: DEFENCE SECRET IN DANGER, DIRECTOR, DRL, DRDO TEZPUR’s DIRECTOR SECRETARIAT MANAGED BY CONTRACTUAL LABOUR AS PERSONNEL SECRETARY

Sir, Yesterday (26^th April 2015) The Sunday Standard first page news was “Defence Secret is in Danger”

In this reference, DRDO having lot of examples, DRDO is only one department where you can find contractual manpower above age of 70 or below 18 years. People may be think that because of their high skill expertise DRDO might been engage such manpower, but matter of fact this practice adopted DRDO is only for those who are having good number of secrets or having evidences of wrong doings of DRDO bosses.

In ASL you will find people working since last more than 10 years after retirements, scientists, Technical Officers, who are experts in manpower/ logistic manipulations while missile firing, even JCDA retired account officer etc who are expertise in bill clearance from CDA. These specialized contractual having good assets that can be verified by agencies.

One major observation on these contract appointments is the not following the proper police verification.

ACEM, Nasik campus one murder was done by a contract’s man who has criminal records.

HEMRL GOCO contract labor business, the police verification was done on single list basis one stamp of Thana solved the problem and best part of this these hundreds of contract labours handle the high class explosive TATB.

For example in ADE, DRDO. Bangalore more than 170 B.Tech contract employees are working in core area for mare Rs 12000 and same time scientists who are getting hefty salaries Rs 80000 to 1.5 Lakhs are looking stores /admin /horticulture /works / security /Library etc

This Mail received by website www.corruptioninddo.com on Thu, 30 Oct 2014 01:19:10 IP: 49.206.192.222

HELLO SIR
all of us know about DRDL it is a dream job org to every one. but please think about contract employees. My husband is also working in DRDO RCI he is engineering graduate. From past 2 years he is working but he is getting 14k. how we can Liv with family in Hyderabad and this year no increments… we are not dreaming about permanent job….. my small wish is to get better pay… for the same job a permanent employee getting nearly 4ok but contract employee getting only 12+.but work is same for both. am not asking to give 4o to contract people just i want to say please provide increments at least…this is not only my wish… i hope u can think & talk about this……….

if i made any mistake please excuse me….. Defence Minister Sir, hope you will take this above mail seriously

Following one example case of DRL, DRDO, Tezpur for your sharp analysis of this DRDO’s contract business.

Sh.M.L. Roy is an ex-employee of Defence Research Laboratory (DRL), Tezpur who superannuated on 31 Dec 2008
He was posted at Director Secretariat as Personal Assistant/Personal Secretary to Director, DRL, Tezpur prior to his superannuation from DRL, Tezpur.
Right from his superannuation on 31 Dec 2008, he was start working at DRL, Tezpur as contractual Laborer and posted at Director He is engaged in all sensitive work like computerized compiling of materials in Director’s Office, monitoring and maintenance of important files of Director Office which has already been mentioned in his contract.
Since last 7 years continuously working in DRL, Tezpur as Personal Secretary (PS) to Director, DRL, and Tezpur by means of several private vendors / supplier/security agencies.
M.L. Roy is presently of 65 +years age and not fit for this job as in this sensitive post any private contractual labour should not be appointed while several young skilled manpower is available in DRL, Tezpur.
DRL, Tezpur having permanent staff Sh S K Sharma as PS ‘C’ but he was not assigned the right job.
Interestingly Sh M L Roy working for Rs 5000 – Rs 6000 only as Jan 2015 Salary was Rs 5764.00
Sh M L Roy working as mole for vendors, each and every file of procurements / recruitments/ transfer postings/temporary duties etc. moves from Director’s office.

Sir, it is requested kindly order for extensive survey of to explore the necessity of this contract business in DRDO. Because like Director, DEAL Sh R C Agarwal used these contract labour for kitchen gardening, to clean utensils, to wash his wife’s petticoats etc, when this issue published on website Sh R C Agarwal stopped using these labours. This British legacy are maintaining by DRDO directors and senior officers. I am enclosing two photographs of a contract labour is busy to wash his boss personal car in DRL, Tezpur campus

Jai hind

Prabhu Dandriyal,
21-Sunderwala, Raipur, Dehradun-248008 Phone 0135- 2787750, Mobile- 9411114879, e-mail id prabhudoon@gmail.com website www.corruptionindrdo.com

Enclosed 1. DRL, Tezpur, contract bills in respect Sh M.L. Roy 2. Photographs of contract labour washing the personal car of boss

**The i20 Personal Car Registration Number of RKR Singh is MN 01W 6847**

Drdo

RTI MOD- ADE- Dr V Ramachandra, Sc ‘G’

April 27, 2015 Prabhu Leave a comment

To 27^th April 2015 Sh A. M. Manichan, Under Secretary (IC-IV), CPIO, Ministry of Defence,Department of Defence, Sena Bhavan, New Delhi

Hello, Kindly provide me with the following information requested under the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 in respect of representation submitted by Dr V Ramchandra, Sc G, ADE, DRDO Bangalore through CPGRAMS vide DDRDO/E/2015/00066 dated 8/4/2015, regarding, Harassment and torture in suitable work assignment.

As per today The New Indian Express Bangalore edition page 4 Director ADE P Srikumar said he was not aware of any such complaint.

The DOP letter no DOP/11/110/108/CPGRAMS/M/01 dated 9^th April 2015 signed by Ms Mukta Chauhan, Dy Director (Pers) for staff grievances officer, DRDO

Provide all action taken in this matter by ADE,DRDO
Provide the date of receiving of above DOP letter by ADE Director, P Sri Kumar
Provide Comment and action of P Sri Kumar, Director, ADE on subject matter.

Note the requested information is in larger interest because ADE is involve in very important projects and country is witnessing the unprecedented delays in LCA, Rustom and day to day corruption cases are coming up. If Dr V Ramachandra senior scientist is suffering from harassment torture then what about the junior scientists and technical staff, it is clear cut violation of human right. It is not single case earlier similarly Dr R K Gupta, Sc H, ASL, Hyderabad also sent representation to PMO.

Regards

Prabhu Dandriyal,
21-Sunderwala, Raipur, Dehradun – 248008 Phone 0135- 2787750, Mobile- 9411114879, e-mail id prabhudoon@gmail.com website www.corruptionindrdo.com

Registration Number MODEF/R/2015/61052

Drdo

Scientist Alleges Harassment, Knocks on PMO Doors

April 27, 2015 Prabhu 8 Comments

by Sharan Poovanna Published: 27th April 2015 06:02 AM The New Indian Express
BENGALURU: A senior scientist of a DRDO lab has knocked on the doors of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Defence Minister and Ministry of Defence among others over alleged harassment, torture and humiliation meted out to him by his superiors at the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE).

Though he has complained to the authorities, no action has been taken. Meanwhile, Raghavan (name changed), the G-category scientist who has over 30 years of experience, authored 180 technical papers and worked on almost all Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) projects of ADE, remains without an assignment for the last four months.

In his complaint, Raghavan alleged that ADE Director P Srikumar is trying to push junior scientists (below G category) to senior positions before he retires later this year. In two letters dated 31-1-2015 and 31-3-2015, Raghavan has told the Defence Minister and DRDO headquarters that “In order to promote some inefficient and less experienced individuals, I have been pushed out of ADE work. This is done due to partiality and favoritism”.

On December 8, 2014, the ADE Director signed a directive attaching Raghavan to ‘Project Ghatak’ at Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), a nodal agency for design and development of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). But ADA has refused to accept the deputation as proper government approval and procedure was not followed, the scientist alleged.

When contacted, ADE director Srikumar said he was not aware of any such complaint. “This does not call for a story,” he said.

On April 9, the DRDO Director (Personnel) has forwarded the complaint back to ADE to resolve the matter. The status on the letter states ‘under process’.

“Since no justice is provided and harassment and insult continued, I made a formal representation to Director, ADE, ADG Aero, Scientific Adviser to Raksha Mantri, and Defence Minister through letter dated 21.1.2015. Till today, my grievance is not addressed and sorted out,” he stated.

When contacted, ADE director Srikumar said he was not aware of any such complaint. “This does not call for a story,” he said.

the above statement of ADE director Srikumar – see the DOP letter on subject matter

Corruption In DRDO

Tag Archives: ADE

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

DRDO lab up in arms against scientist’s transfer

Extension for Nirbhay, panel to identify flaws

DRDO’s cruise missile project Nirbhay on verge of closure

Rustom-II UAV to be tested in Chitradurga

Use/Misuse of positional power by Dr. K. Tamilmani and his staff

Sources of Misuse in Procurement in ADE, Bangalore

DEFENCE SECRET IN DANGER, DIRECTOR, DRL, DRDO, TEZPUR’s DIRECTOR SECRETARIAT MANAGED BY CONTRACTUAL LABOUR AS PERSONNEL SECRETARY

RTI MOD- ADE- Dr V Ramachandra, Sc ‘G’

Scientist Alleges Harassment, Knocks on PMO Doors

Appeal to clean DRDO of corrupt and anti-national officials