Man behind indigenous airborne early warning system is new DRDO chief: All you need to know about S Christopher

New Delhi: Radar specialist S Christopher took charge as the new Director General of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and its secretary on Friday morning. On Thursday night, Christopher was appointed chief of the premier defence research agency for two years by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.

Christopher is also the man behind the indigenous Airborne Early Warning & Control system (AEW&C). The DRDO was without a full-time chief for around four months ever since Avinash Chander was unceremoniously removed on 31 January.

Christopher was heading the Bengaluru-based Centre for Airborne Systems and the project to develop an airborne early warning and control system before his new appointment.

After completing his graduation from University of Madras and IIT Kharagpur, Christopher joined IIT Madras as project associate in 1980. He completed his PhD from IIT Madras in Antennae and Measurement Techniques, the  Economic Times  reported.

Christopher shot to fame when he led a team to create the Automated Planar Near Field Measurement Facility at LRDE. Christopher was lauded for his efforts as it was never before done in the country and his efforts paved way “the electronically scanned array antenna evaluation at LRDE.” The technology was used for many airborne and missile projects which was used for exports, the report added.

In 2007, Christopher became the Programme Director for the Airborne Early Warning and Control programme and joined the Centre for Air-Borne Systems (CABS). He was later promoted to the rank of a distinguished scientist in 2012, the DRDO website said.

The Department of Defence Research and Development (DoDRD) has remained under additional charge of Defence Secretary since 30 January this year.

Avinash Chander’s contract as Secretary of DoDRD and director general of DRDO and Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar was terminated with effect from 31 January. His contract would have otherwise ended in May 2016.

With agency inputs