India has become Atmanirbhar (Self-Reliant) on the missile front: DRDO Chairman Dr G. Satheesh Reddy

New Delhi: – India that tested ten missiles like BrahMos, Prithvi, Shaurya, HSTDV, SMART, Rudram, in just five weeks, has become Atmanirbhar, in Missile manufacturing. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has acquired the capability of producing any missile, required by the defence forces, indigenously. Dr G. Satheesh Reddy, Chairman DRDO, announced that a hypersonic missile, capable of travelling at the double the speed of the current supersonic BrahMos, will be developed in the next four to five years.

Dr Reddy, Chairman of DRDO, who is working on the development of missiles and other weapon systems, clarified that the country has made substantial advances in the missile capacities. The country has achieved this success on the missile front and the CRDO Chairman informed that even the private companies are developing systems as per the requirements given by the DRDO. The scientists at the DRDO have continued to work even during the Coronavirus crisis recognising their responsibility and are working on various missile systems. Dr Reddy said that good progress is being made in all the systems and more systems will be tested soon.

The DRDO Chairman expressed confidence that India has become self-reliant in the manufacture of missiles, radars, electronic warfare programs, torpedo, artillery guns and communication systems along with other equipment. The DRDO scientists are working on the systems imported by the defence forces and trying to develop indigenous systems. The DRDO Chairman claimed that henceforth, India would not have to import missiles. Dr Reddy said in the interview that the target is making India a country of advanced technology and the scientists at DRDO are focusing on super-advanced and complex technologies. While speaking about the test of BrahMos missile, conducted a few days ago, Dr Reddy said that the speed of this fastest Indian missile would be doubled in the future. BrahMos, the fastest cruise missile in the world, travels at 2.8 Mach. It is claimed that the deployment of BrahMos on the Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jets, is making a more lethal. The DRDO Chairman said that within the next four to five years, hypersonic version of BrahMos missile, will be there in the fleet of the defence forces. Dr Reddy informed that the speed of this hypersonic missile would be in the range of 6 to 7 Mach.

The DRDO Chief claimed that Rudram missile, tested last week, can locate and destroy the radar systems of the enemy and this will only benefit, the Indian Airforce. Dr Reddy said that the ‘Smart Missile Assisted Release Torpedo’ (SMART) system would be helpful for the Indian Navy in anti-submarine warfare. The DRDO Chief informed that this system could locate an enemy submarine from a long distance. Against the background of the tensions reigning with China and Pakistan, the announcement made by the DRDO Chief become important.