Missile Complex in Hyderabad named after Kalam

Hyderabad, Oct 15: India's prestigious Missile Complex here has been renamed as Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Missile Complex as a tribute to the late former president.

The Missile Complex comprises Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) and Research Centre Imarat (RCI).

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday attended a renaming ceremony at RCI to mark the 84th birth anniversary of Kalam, the father of India's missile programme.

Kalam had joined Missile Complex, DRDO in 1982 and was part of it for nearly two decades. ASI is considered is his brain child and as its founder director, he conceived and steered RCI as a generator of critical missile technologies.

Parrikar also inaugurated two advanced R&D facilities of RCI - Outdoor RCS Test Facility 'ORANGE', at Dundigal and Kautilya Advanced Research Centre at RCI.

Speaking on the occasion, he said renaming the institutions alone will not help but they should deliver to accomplish the vision of Kalam.

The defence minister said it was because of Kalam's vision and the encouragement he gave to the students that many youngsters were taking up defence as a career.

Asserting that India should become 100 percent self reliant in missile technology, he called for filling the gaps in achieving the goal.

G. Satheesh Reddy, scientific advisor to the defence minister and director, RCI along with other scientists, lab directors, project directors and senior officials of Defence Research and Development Ogranisation (DRDO) attended the event.

IANS