MZ Siddique appointed Director GTRE
MZ Siddique, Project Director (Kaveri) has been appointed as Director, Gas Turbine Research Establishment ( GTRE), under DRDO, Bangalore on 11 August 2015. A Mechanical Engineer, MZ Siddique joined the GTRE, Bangalore as Scientist ‘B’ in 1988 after completion of one year fellowship programme on ‘ Gas Turbine Technology’ from Institute of Armament Technology ( IAT), Pune in 1988. Subsequently he had on-the-job training at General Electric, USA on aero gas turbine engines. MZ Siddique was also associated with the design and testing of axial flow compressor systems. Under his leadership the airborne testing of Kaveri engine was conducted in Russia.
First woman DG for DRDO
Ms J Manjula has been appointed Director General of the Electronics & Communication Systems cluster at the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), making her the first woman Director General of a DRDO cluster. She has been heading the Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE) as a Director since July 2014.
India orders 22 Apache and 15 Chinook helicopters
The Indian Ministry of Defence has finalised its order with Boeing for production, training and support of Apache and Chinook helicopters: India will receive 22 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and 15 CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters. Both are the newest models of those aircraft.“This is a milestone in Boeing’s expanding commitment to India,” said Pratyush Kumar, President, Boeing India. “This acquisition enhances the Indian Air Force’s capabilities and offers us an opportunity to further accelerate ‘Make in India.’ Large sections of the Chinook fuselage are already manufactured in India and discussions are ongoing with our Indian partners to make Apache parts.”
The Apache is the world’s leading multi-role attack helicopter. The AH-64E Apache, the most modern variant also flown by the
Manjula is an alumnus of Osmania University and joined DRDO in 1987 and was with the Defence Electronics Research Laboratory ( DLRL) in Hyderabad for more than 26 years, working on Integrated Electronic Warfare. She has designed and realised fast signal acquisition receivers, high power RF systems, responsive jammers, and other such systems for various military and paramilitary requirements. Her specialisations include configuration of communication and radar ESM and ECM systems, and she is a recipient of the DRDO award for ‘Performance Excellence’ and ‘Scientist of the Year,’ the latter awarded to her in 2011. She is also the recipient of India Today’s Woman Summit award for 2014.
INS
IKochi
commissioned
NS Kochi, the second Kolkata class destroyer, was commissioned by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on 30 September. The first vessel of this class, INS Kolkata, was commissioned in August last year, while the third INS Chennai will be inducted towards end-2016. US Army and the CH-47F Chinook is an advanced multi-mission helicopter operated by the US Army and 18 other defence forces. India is the 14th nation to select the Apache and the 19th nation to select the Chinook.“The Apache and Chinook represent the best of high-performing technologies that will modernise India’s defence capabilities,” said Dennis Swanson, Vice President, Defence, Space & Security in India. “We look forward to delivering the newest Apache and Chinook to our customers and remain focused on delivering on its commitments to the Indian Air Force and India’s Ministry of Defence.”