Dr SK Chaudhuri
Outstanding Scientist & Associate Director, RCI (DRDO), Hyderabad
E-Mail: subirchaudhuri@hotmail.com
BIO-DATA: Outstanding Scientist, Associate Director, RCI, Hyderabad. obtained B.E.E. degree from Jadavpur University, Calcutta in 1971 and M.Tech from IIT, Madras in 1978. Awarded Common Wealth Scholarship for Ph.D. on Aerospace Electronics System with Flight Control System specialization from Cranfield Institute of Technology, United Kingdom in 1985.
Established Hardware-In-Loop Simulation in India and designed flight proven Guidance & Control system along with Embedded Systems for various Guided Missile applications. Configured Advanced Simulation Centre (ASC) and Remote HILS facility with rapid proto connectivity and minimum latency (<<1ms) using reflective memory based Fibre Optic SCRAMNet link for various Missile Systems and contributed as expert consultant for establishing test beds for other projects (eg. LCA, RPVS, UAVS, Tank systems, etc) in India. Missile systems using Inertial and Seeker based Guidance Systems and Radars has been designed with different kinds of actuation and embedded systems in real time in Advanced Simulation Centre under his guidance. Made significant contribution in the development and implementation of Kalman Filters for Missile System applications including data fusion with Master INS and GPS. Resolved and demonstrated number of missile system failures in HILS test bed. Current interests: Estimation and Filtering Techniques, Guidance System Engineering, Precision Guidance Technology, Seeker Simulation, Virtual Reality Applications and Corporate ERP Network.
Received Dr. Vikram Sarabhai Research Award in the field of Electronics in 1994 and got DRDO award for excellence in 1998 and DRDO Technology Award in 2002 for Missile Systems. He was honored as "Scientist of the Year Award" in 2008 by Prime Minister of India. Also received "DRDO Award for Path Breaking Research/Outstanding Technology Development" in 2008 and 2007 by Prime Minister of India for flight testing & realization of missile systems and development of Antiballistic Missile Systems respectively. Honored as a Fellow of INAE in 2009.
Published number of papers in National & International Conferences & Seminars. Got best pa- per award from AIAA, USA and delivered lectures as Guest Lecturer in number of US & Indian Universities. Chaired sessions in number of National & International conferences. A Visiting Professor and Visitor's Nominee for Professors selection in IIT, Bombay. Honored as Examiner for Doctoral/Masters Degree in IITs, IISc & other leading institutes. A Senior Member of IEEE, member of Aeronautical Society of India, CSI, SSI and specialist member for ARDB System Panel, etc. Honored as "Scientist of Calcutta" in 1996. Chairman for International Conference on Avionics Systems (ICAS-2008) held at RCI, Hyderabad during February 2008 in technical association with IEEE, AeSI, IISc & IITs and edited a book on "Recent Trends in Avionics Systems", containing a collection of papers presented in ICAS-2008.
INDIAN MISSILE SYSTEMS & TECHNOLOGIES
EXTENDED ABSTRACT
India has started development of missile systems to meet defence requirements from late 1960s. The missile programmes include a variety of tactical and strategic missiles. Defence Research Development Organization has made a significant progress in this technology area and has placed India among the selected group of countries which have the capability to design, develop, productionize and induct the systems into the armed forces.
The development of indigenous missile systems got a boost with launching of IGMDP (Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme) in 1983 to develop a family of five missiles. This includes surface to surface missiles PRITHVI & AGNI, surface to air missiles AKASH & TRISHUL
and anti tank missile NAG.
Research Centre Imarat (RCI), the premier institute of DRDO has been established to design and develop world class state-of-the-art missile technologies, which will produce reliable, indigenous weapon systems to strengthen country's armed forces. RCI is the electronics hub for missile systems and is pursuing development and research on navigation, guidance & control, imaging infrared and Radio Frequency (RF) based sensors for seekers, inertial sensors and various actuations systems including missile batteries and flight instrumentation. Advanced Simulation Centre (ASC) has been established in RCI for guidance system engineering, embedded mission software, state-of-the- art Hardware-In-Loop-Simulation (HILS) and visual simulation facilities. Electrical & Mechanical integration of missile systems, Reliability & Quality Assurance along with setup for environmental and Electro Magnetic Interference and Electro Magnetic Compatibility for accepting airborne hardware is also established in RCI. Presently RCI is getting Information Technology enabled with Corporate ERP Network.
The success of Prithvi and Agni missile systems has led to productionization of missiles at the prime production agencies. The induction of these missiles into armed forces has started a new era. After making the systems operational for the battle field scenario, variants of these missiles, Prithvi- I, Prithvi-ll, Agni-I, Agni-II, Agni-Ill have been developed. To meet the requirements of Navy and to i.e. DHANUSH has been developed provide strategic advantage to the nation, a ship based SSM, and made operational on naval platforms. The missile systems of AKASH & NAG are in the process of induction by users.
To shield the nation from the ballistic missile strikes and to support country's nuclear doctrine that envisages no first use, the development of Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) systems was taken up. In a short span of time, DRDO has developed and tested all the weapon system elements like Radars, C'I systems with Data link to Interceptors. The Anti Ballistic Missile (ABM) systems for both Exo and Endo atmospheric levels have been demonstrated against live targets. Inertial sensors, RF seekers with data fusion techniques and extensive use of embedded software techniques have been used which has helped in realizing the interceptor missiles. The mission programme was successful due to extensive design validation through HILS in newly built ASC of RCI.
The country has acquired under water launch capability with the latest missile system design. Another advanced Air to Air missile ASTRA is under development to launch from state of the art combat aircraft with data links giving DRDO the distinction of making missiles that can be launched from almost all platforms.
To hasten the development process, DRDO undertook the development of new generation su- personic cruise missile Brahmos in joint collaboration with Russia. After successful user trials, the missile is in the process of induction into all services from various platforms. Presently joint develop- ment programme Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LRSAM) and Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) in collaboration with Israel is underway.
PRITHVI & VARIANTS:
Prithvi missile has been developed as part of IGMDP to support Army as a battlefield tactical weapon. The successful first flight test of the missile in 1988 within 5 years of development has led to user trials in 1994 and subsequent induction into Army. The system has been productionized and a large number of missiles have already been produced and inducted into Army.
The continuous upgradation of systems with latest technology has led to realization of P-II with range extension, which has been inducted into Indian Air Force. The same missile has been reconfigured to achieve still higher ranges, thus changing the role from a battle field tactical missile to the missile that can be used for engaging strategic targets. The development of ship launched mis- sile, DHANUSH brought new dimensions in the capability of the nation to launch from a stabilized platform.
AGNI:
The longer range Surface to Surface Agni Ballistic Missile has been developed as a technology demonstrator in late 1980s as part of IGMDP. The missile has been developed with advanced technologies like re-entry, solid propulsion with flex nozzle, staging, navigation, guidance and control. The remote simulation facility of Advanced Simulation Centre helped in validating the design. The success of the missile has led to further development of three variants with various ranges. These missiles have been chosen for strategic roles of the country from short range version to Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile class.
AKASH:
Is a medium range surface to Air missile designed as part of IGMDP. The missile system has been developed for Army and Air Force. Akash weapon system has multiple targets and mutli-directional area defence capability. The weapon system can simultaneously engage several targets in a fully autonomous mode of operation. The missile system is being inducted into Air Force after successful flight trails in 2007.
TRISHUL:
A short range quick reaction surface to Air missile developed for the Armed forces against fast and maneuvering Aircrafts. It has the capability of a Sea skimming mode for the Naval version. Number of critical technologies required for the missile system have been realized and successfully flight tested.
NAG:
Third generation anti tank missile developed for engagement from a tracked vehicle and helicopters as well. The system is equipped with passive Imaging Infrared seeker using homing guidance for autonomous fire-and-forget role in Day & Night operations. Digital autopilot enabling top/front attack with a powerful Tandem shaped charged warhead is incorporated. Number of flight trials have been conducted and the capability of missile has been demonstrated to users to achieve a direct hit of tanks.
BRAHMOS:
Is a supersonic cruise missile realized through joint development with Russia. The missile uses solid booster and liquid ramjet technologies to achieve the range of 300 Kms with supersonic terminal kill. The development started in 1998 and in a span of six years the systems have been fully tested and cleared for induction. The missiles are con- figured for usage by all the three services i.e. Navy on board ships, Army on vehicles and Air force contemplates usage from Su-30 air- craft. The missile has huge export potential and the technologies developed would help India in realization of longer ranges cruise missiles in future.
ASTRA:
State of the art beyond Visual range Air to Air missile developed for launching from fighter aircraft. The missile employs advanced technologies such as seeker, secured data link, compact INS with embedded systems and smokeless propulsion to achieve an interception range of more than 80 Kms. The development of missile is under progress and flight trials of the prototype missiles are being undertaken.
HYPERSONIC TEST DEVELOPMENTAL VEHICLE (HSTDV):
India has embarked on development of reusable hypersonic technology demonstrator vehicle that can be used for aerospace missions with a very high payload fraction. The system uses scramjet technology and collects the oxygen from air through air liquefaction. The vehicle can undertake a number of reusable missions into space and can be used for transcontinental transportation with the ability to land and takeoff from the runways. The propulsion and structures are under evaluation for the flight tests of the vehicle.
BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENCE SYSTEM:
India has embarked on development of BMD systems in late 90's and has developed the sensors and the command control systems on an intelligent and automated architecture. The radars for detection of incoming missiles at longer ranges have been realized. The dedicated secured communication among various weapon system elements spread across thousands of Kilometers is achieved. The systems have been realized and employed during many exercises. Two interceptor missiles have been developed and tested as part of the anti-missile shield. The PAD missile that has capability of intercepting incoming missiles at altitudes above 50 Kms has been tested in Nov '06 by intercepting a ballistic missile directly. The endo atmospheric interceptor missile AAD has been tested during Dec '07 to intercept the target at 15 Kms altitude. Development of advanced interceptors that would provide capability to intercept high velocity targets at longer ranges is under progress.
TECHNOLOGIES:
The development of missiles for various applications has been possible due to highly qualified personnel and establishing critical technologies and facilities in house. DRDO has been successful in establishing all required technologies in spite of restrictions and denial of technology through MTCR and other export control restrictions. Today, the missile complex has capability to develop advanced technologies like navigation, guidance and control systems, RF and IIR seekers, actuators, propulsion and advanced composites. Advanced Simulation Centre at RCI has been configured to connect radars, seekers and inertial sensors for fusing data using data links & embedded mission software and visualize till endgame, which has enhanced the design and validation capability of missile systems in weapon system configuration. Other technology areas include Electrical and Mechanical integration with automated checkout ensuring reliability and quality. It also has setup for environmental and EMI/EMC test facilities for qualification and acceptance of various sub systems. RCI has CMM-3 Level certification for software and ISO 9001:2000 standard. The missile complex is also getting IT enabled with corporate ERP network.