UAVs capable of launching weapons soon: DRDO chief

PGMs are target-specific and meant to prevent collateral damage

August 27, 2013 01:03 am | Updated November 16, 2021 09:23 pm IST - HYDERABAD:

Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister Avinash Chander at the silver jubilee celebrations of the Research Centre Imarat in Hyderabad on Monday. — Photo: K. Ramesh Babu

Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister Avinash Chander at the silver jubilee celebrations of the Research Centre Imarat in Hyderabad on Monday. — Photo: K. Ramesh Babu

Precision-guided munitions (PGMs) that can be launched from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) will be test-fired by the Defence Research and Development Organisation in a couple of months, Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister Avinash Chander said. PGMs are target-specific and meant to prevent collateral damage.

City-based Research Centre Imarat (RCI) had played a major role in the development of the PGMs, Mr. Chander, who is also the DRDO’s Director General, said at the RCI’s silver jubilee celebrations held here on Monday.

He also lauded the RCI for its contribution in every field of missile technology — from Prithvi to the long-range Agni systems.

Calling for miniaturisation of the systems to increase the accuracy of missiles, he said a major thrust was on bridging vital gaps in developing advanced seekers, sensors and actuators. Future challenges included the development of navigation and telemetry on chip and that of loitering weapons with 80 per cent explosives and 20 per cent avionics.

RCI Director G. Satheesh Reddy said plans were afoot to extend the range of guided smart-bombs from 30 km to 100 km.

Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who was the founder of RCI, emphasised the need for collaboration between various disciplines and said that convergence of bio, nano and information technologies with the environment was the new-age model.

Governor, E.S. L. Narasimhan urged scientists to forecast technological challenges and identify key areas while embarking upon R&D projects relevant to national needs. He said cybersecurity would be one such important area.

Chief Controller, (Missiles and Strategic Systems ), V.G. Sekaran, former DRDO chief V.K. Saraswat and former NTRO Chief K.V.S.S. Prasada Rao also spoke. Former RCI directors, including Dr. Kalam, were felicitated on the occasion.

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