Ankathi Raju has been appointed as the new director of the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) in Hyderabad. In a related announcement, Dr. M. Raghavendra Rao has taken on the role of director at the Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), also located in Hyderabad.
Raju, who specializes in missile propulsion technology, has a mechanical engineering degree from Osmania University and an MTech in Aeronautical Engineering (Propulsion) from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay. With more than three decades of experience, he has been instrumental in advancing missile propulsion systems in India. His significant achievements include demonstrating the solid fuel ducted ramjet (SFDR) propulsion system and developing liquid propulsion systems for key missile programs, including the Prithvi, Agni, Prithvi Air Defence, Prithvi Defence Vehicle, and Mission Shakti, which is an anti-satellite system. Additionally, his expertise extends to reaction control systems, interceptor missiles, and the design of axial flow compressors.
On the other hand, Dr. Raghavendra Rao, a graduate in mechanical engineering from the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Bhopal, holds a master”s degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Chennai and a PhD from NIT Warangal. He is well-known for his contributions to India”s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), which was initiated under the guidance of former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. As the technology director for Liquid Propulsion at DRDL, Dr. Rao has led efforts in designing and developing propulsion systems for Agni missiles, air defence initiatives, advanced naval systems, and hypersonic technologies. His work on liquid propellant-based control systems, engines, and scramjet propulsion has gained widespread recognition in the field.
