By Staff Correspondent
Renowned scientist Atul Dinkar Rane was appointed Director-General, BrahMos, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO and Managing Director (MD), BrahMos Aerospace earlier today.
Here is everything you need to know about the scientific pioneer’s contributions to the Indian defence and aerospace industry and his latest appointment.
Atul Rane is renowned for his decades of sustained R&D contributions in the indigenous design & development of mission-critical Onboard computers (OBC), hardware in loop simulation studies, Systems analysis, development of mission software and avionics technologies for defence applications.
His pioneering contributions and techno-managerial leadership has been transformative for the successful development and induction of BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile into Armed Forces.
He graduated in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Guindy Engineering College, Chennai and received his post-graduate degree in Guided Missiles from the University of Poona.
He joined DRDO in the year 1987 and started his initial career at Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) as System Manager and carried out simulation studies, and established modular real-time simulation test mechanisms for the indigenously developed Surface to Air Akash Missile System.
Later as part of the Onboard Computers Division, Research Centre Imarat (RCI), he led the development of Onboard Mission Software for Agni-I missile and established a unique integrated testbed facility for seamless test and evaluation Onboard Systems for various missile projects.
He was one of the core team members of BrahMos Aerospace right from its foundation as a Joint Venture with Russia.
His significant contributions as Programme Manager, Avionics & System Integration for Programme PJ-10, steered the feasibility studies, conceptual design, planning, development, testing, integration and certification of DRDO Onboard systems culminating in the successful demonstration, induction and subsequent productisation of BrahMos, world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile system strengthening the arsenal of our armed forces with a formidable weapon system.
As Counsellor (Defence Technology), Embassy of India, Moscow, he progressed Indo-Russian technical collaborations and later as Director, International Cooperation strengthened Defence R&D collaborations, joint developments and represented the country during much inter-governmental cooperation.
His immense expertise in defence technology management and international S&T outreach efforts left a lasting imprint on bridging the technology gaps, identifying futuristic areas for joint research and giving thrust to the export of DRDO developed products.
As Director, Systems Analysis and Modeling Centre, he played a crucial role in System Analysis and carried out extensive feasibility studies to develop advanced weapon systems. Presently as Director of a DRDO facility in Delhi, he is leading numerous national significance activities for the nation’s defence.
His R&D contributions, expertise in international R&D project management, and versatile techno-managerial leadership capabilities significantly impacted the indigenisation of critical Missile technologies and boosted defence manufacturing in the country.
He has been conferred with the prestigious DRDO Path Breaking Research/Outstanding Technology Development Award and DRDO Performance Excellence Award for his distinguished contributions.
He is an active member of many professional societies, including the Aeronautical Society of India, Systems Society of India, Society of Aerospace Quality and Reliability & Computer Society of India. He has several national/international publications and technical reports to his credit.
