Distinguished scientist and the man in charge of the development of missile and strategic systems in the country, Dr Vijay Kumar Saraswat, will take over as the next chief of the Defence Research and Development Organisation, DRDO officials said.
The DRDO chief also holds the posts of scientific advisor to the defence minister, and secretary of the Department of Defence Research and Development.
Saraswat will succeed M Natarajan, who retires on September 1, 2009. Presently working as the chief controller, research and development (missiles and strategic systems) since November 2005, Saraswat is credited with the development of the country’s strategic and tactical missile systems, including the Agni and Prithvi series missiles and the under-development indigenous Ballistic Missile Defence shield.
Holding a doctorate in combustion engineering, Saraswat started his career in the DRDO in 1972, at the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad, and was responsible for the development of the country’s first Liquid Propulsion
Engine.
"He played a key role in the development of a number of critical missile technologies that were under denial due to the missile technology control regime, thus making India
self-reliant in missile technologies," a DRDO official said.
A Padma Shri awardee, Saraswat has received several awards, including the Prof Jai Krishna Memorial Award of Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) and National Systems Gold Medal by the Systems Society of India.
