Dr Satheesh Reddy, a renowned defence and aerospace scientist is acclaimed for his significant contributions to Defence R&D and technology leadership spanning four decades.
He graduated in Electronics & Communication Engineering (ECE) from JNTU Anantapur and holds MS degree and PhD in ECE from JNTU, Hyderabad. He joined Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) in the year 1986, and subsequently at Research Centre Imarat (RCI), the brain child of Dr Kalam, after its formation.
He started his journey as a young navigation engineer and later as Technology Director developing many inertial sensors and diversified hybrid navigation systems making India self-reliant in navigation and guidance technologies. As Project Director, he developed the India’s first guided bomb paving way for indigenous development of long range smart precision weapons. Dr Reddy spearheaded the development of advanced avionics as Director, Research Centre Imarat (RCI) and headed Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex as Director General, Missiles and Strategic Systems.
During his illustrious career, he held many prestigious appointments in Government of India as the Secretary Department of Defence R&D, Chairman, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Director General, Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) & the Scientific Adviser to Raksha Mantri (SA to RM). He is presently serving as a Member of the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB), Govt of India, Honorary Adviser to the Govt of Andhra Pradesh (Cabinet Rank) and President, Aeronautical Society of India, providing thrust to policy frameworks and significantly leveraging India's indigenous capabilities in Defence and Aerospace sector for Aatmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat.
As Chairman, DRDO he conceived and initiated large number of major defence projects and programmes & led the development of missiles, strategic systems, fighter aircrafts, unmanned aerial defence systems, underwater systems, radars, electronic warfare systems, armoured vehicles, armaments & other advanced technologies. His phenomenal contributions made India self-reliant in many critical areas and enhanced defence exports substantially. As Chief Architect of Mission Shakti, he spearheaded development of technologies and systems and carried out country’s first Anti Satellite Missile Test (ASAT) and led maiden demonstration of Hypersonic Missile Technology (HSTDV) elevating India to an elite club of few nations.
His notable contributions towards development of a series of new generation long and short range missiles, Air Independent Propulsion for submarines, Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), Drone & Anti-drone systems, Light Weight Tank and Precision Guided Munitions among many others have been transformative for enhancing the defense capabilities of India. A visionary, Dr Reddy was instrumental in formulation of many progressive policies, strategies & initiatives for strengthening defense R&D eco-system in India. He established state-of-the-art technical infrastructure, DRDO-Industry-Academia Centres of Excellence (DIA-CoE), DRDO Young Scientist Laboratories (DYSL) and facilitated participation of private industry, MSMEs, Startups & Academia in a big way.
He played a vital role in combating COVID-19 pandemic. Under his leadership, DRDO developed more than 75 products including high-end ventilators, large oxygen plants, anti-Covid drug 2-DG, personal protective equipment (PPE) and transferred the technology to over 100 industries & built many COVID hospitals across the country.
He made significant contributions to India’s science and technology ecosystem as a member of the Governing Councils and Committees of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institute of Science Education & Research (IISER), Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Prime Minister’s Science, Technology & Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC), Technology Development Board (TDB) and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and many other professional bodies.
In recognition of his path-breaking contributions to Defence R&D, he has received numerous International, National and DRDO awards. He is the first Indian in over 100 years to be conferred with the prestigious Honorary Fellowship and Silver Medal by the Royal Aeronautical Society, London, an internationally renowned scientific society founded in 1866. He is the first recipient outside the USA in over four decades to be honoured with the prestigious Missile Systems Award by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), world’s largest aerospace technical society. He is a Foreign Member, Academy of Navigation and Motion Control, Russia.
Other notable awards conferred on Dr Reddy include National Aeronautical Prize, National Systems Gold Medal, National Design Award, Astronautical Society of India Aryabhata Award, the first IEI-IEEE (USA) Engineering Excellence Award, Homi J Bhabha Gold Medal, Scientist of the Year and Young Scientist Award from Hon’ble Prime Minister of India. For his sustained R&D contributions, he has been honoured and inducted as Honorary Fellow, Honorary Member, Distinguished Fellow, Fellow and also is part of Governing Bodies of over 35 scientific, professional and academic institutions spread across India and abroad. He has been conferred with over 25 Honorary degrees of Doctorate from reputed Universities and Institutes across the country.
Journey, Vision & Legacy
Journey
From a young researcher at DRDL to leading the nation's premier Defence Research organisation.
Vision
Pioneering the "Atmanirbhar Bharat" initiative in Defence and Aerospace Sector.
Legacy
Institutionalized innovation through Young Scientist Labs, DRDO-Industry-Academia Centers of Excellence for future generations and enabling participation of Private Industries in Defence R&D.