Minister of State for Defence reviews missile, weapons development at DRDO missile complex

Hyderabad, Jul 18: Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth undertook a two-day visit to the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in Hyderabad on July 16 and 17, 2025, to review progress on key missile and weapon system programmes.

During his visit, Sanjay Seth assessed the ongoing projects at the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Research Centre Imarat (RCI), and Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL)—the three key laboratories under DRDO’s Missile Cluster

He was briefed by senior scientists on the development status of indigenous missile systems and strategic technologies. At DRDL, the Minister visited key project sites including the Astra Mk I & Mk II air-to-air missile systems, the Vertically-Launched Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VL-SRSAM), and facilities related to scramjet engine development. Distinguished Scientist and Director General (Missiles and Strategic Systems), U Raja Babu, and DRDL Director G A Srinivasa Murthy briefed him on current advancements and future plans.

Sanjay Seth also toured critical divisions at RCI, where Director Shri Anindya Biswas provided an overview of projects focused on Indigenous Navigation and Aviation Systems, Onboard Computers, and Imaging Infra-Red (IIR) Seeker technologies—key components in next-generation missile guidance and precision targeting systems. Commending the scientific and technical teams, the minister praised DRDO’s role in strengthening India’s self-reliance in defence under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. He encouraged the scientists to continue their efforts in equipping the Indian Armed Forces with cutting-edge capabilities to meet evolving security challenges.