Tag Archives: Dr. Avinash Chander

Avinash Chander to continue as DRDO chief till May 2016

PTI | November 28, 2014, 19.11 pm IST
Avinash Chander 28 novNew Delhi: India’s premier defence and research organisation DRDO’s chief Dr Avinash Chander was to retire on November 30 but will continue to occupy the position on a contractual basis till May 2016.

“The President is pleased to retire Dr Avinash Chander, Secretary, Department of Defence Research & Development (DOB: 06.11.1950), in the Ministry of Defence from Government Service with effect from 30.11.2014 (AN) on attaining the age of superannuation,” an official statement said on Friday.

It said “the appointment of Chander beyond his date of retirement, November 30, for 18 months would be on contract basis, with the same terms and conditions as he would be entitled to Secretary (DRD) before the date of retirement.”

His contractual term will end on May 31, 2016. Asked if this was the first time a DRDO chief will go on contract, sources said there had been instances when chiefs have been given “extraordinary” extensions.

The DRDO chief also holds the post of Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister and the Secretary of Department of Defence Research and Development.

Chander joined DRDO in 1972 after completing graduation in Electrical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi.

He obtained MS in Spatial Information Technology from Jawharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), Hyderabad. Chander is the chief architect of Agni series of ballistic missile systems.

Development of Agni range of missiles under a highly-restrictive international control regimes was possible only out of his technology forecast, perspective planning and relentless efforts, DRDO officials said.

Modi government removes DRDO chief to infuse young talent

IndiaToday.in  New Delhi, November 28, 2014 | UPDATED 18:31 IST

Projects on unmanned reconnaissance aircraft and combat aircraft are underway, but there is a need to evolve a policy for inclusion of such systems into the armed forces, DRDO Director General Dr. Avinash Chander said.
Projects on unmanned reconnaissance aircraft and combat aircraft are underway, but there is a need to evolve a policy for inclusion of such systems into the armed forces, DRDO Director General Dr. Avinash Chander said.

The Narendra Modi government on Friday sacked Dr Avinash Chander as chief of the prestigious Defence Research and Development Organisation, asking him to retire with immediate effect.

Friday was the last day in office for Dr Chander, India’s senior most missile scientist and scientific advisor to the Defence Minister, who was to serve on extension till the end of 2015.

The government order is said to be in line with the Modi government’s policy to avoid extensions to government scientists in order to encourage a younger and fresher profile in the DRDO and other scientific organisations.

Padma Shri Dr Chander, the man behind Agni missiles, was appointed to the two posts in June last year. His research in innovative energy management guidance system formed the backbone of the
The Narendra Modi government on Friday sacked Dr Avinash Chander as chief of the prestigious Defence Research and Development Organisation, asking him to retire with immediate effect.

Friday was the last day in office for Dr Chander, India’s senior most missile scientist and scientific advisor to the Defence Minister, who was to serve on extension till the end of 2015.

The government order is said to be in line with the Modi government’s policy to avoid extensions to government scientists in order to encourage a younger and fresher profile in the DRDO and other scientific organisations.

Padma Shri Dr Chander, the man behind Agni missiles, was appointed to the two posts in June last year. His research in innovative energy management guidance system formed the backbone of the long-range missile system.

Dr Chander joined the DRDO in 1972 after graduating in Electrical Engineering from IIT-Delhi. He later got his MS in Spatial Information Technology from JNTU, Hyderabad. He is a recipient of numerous awards and honours, including DRDO Scientist of the Year and Agni Self-Reliance Award.

DRDO to make unmanned combat systems

S. SANDEEP KUMAR, November 24, 2014 17:04 IST THE HINDU

Projects on unmanned reconnaissance aircraft and combat aircraft are underway, but there is a need to evolve a policy for inclusion of such systems into the armed forces, DRDO Director General Dr. Avinash Chander said.
Projects on unmanned reconnaissance aircraft and combat aircraft are underway, but there is a need to evolve a policy for inclusion of such systems into the armed forces, DRDO Director General Dr. Avinash Chander said.

it is going to be the future, it will be a fight against one technology over the other, than the conventional man against man wars,” DRDO Director General Avinash Chander said.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Director General Dr. Avinash Chander underscored the need for a policy to induct unmanned combat systems into the armed forces and make them an integral part.

Many advanced countries, especially the United States, are focusing on developing unmanned security systems and the DRDO is working on different unmanned combat system projects for aerial, underwater and surface applications.

Presently, projects on unmanned reconnaissance aircraft and combat aircraft and others are underway but there is a need to evolve a policy for inclusion of such systems into the armed forces. It is going to be the future, it will be a fight against one technology over the other, than the conventional man against man wars, said Mr. Chander.

Strengthening biochemical capability

Sensing a potential threat through dreadful viruses, bacteria and other bio agents, the defence organisation is working on strengthening biochemical capability by developing vaccines for detection and protection.

“We have developed a vaccine for detection of HINI flu virus and are working on detection of anthrax in association with department of food research. They are still under clinical evaluation and we need to get clearance. It is a long process,” said Mr. Chander, who was in the city to lay the foundation for the Centre of Excellence in Composites at V.R. Siddhartha Engineering College in Vijayawada on Monday.

Akash MK-II missile

Sharing details about the upgrading of Akash MK-II surface-to-air missile, he said Akash, in its present form, was very successful and met with the aspirations of the armed forces. “It has got a very good hit rate and now efforts are on for enhancing range and it is still on the drawing board,” he said.

On other projects, the DRDO Director General said the organisation was setting up a centre of technology for robotics at Jagadalpur and there are plans to set up 10 such centres for propulsions etc at Mumbai, Chennai and other locations in the country in the next five years.

The objective was to inculcate research interest among students and DRDO will be funding such centres, he added.