Expect India’s large passenger jets within a decade, says 'Missile Woman'

TDT | Manama                                                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com     

Report by Mahir Haneef

Large passenger aircraft can be expected to be developed in India within a decade, said Dr. Tessy Thomas, aka the "Missile Woman of India."

She was the keynote speaker at a programme titled 'Women and Scientific Progress: Enabling Gender Diversity in Aerospace Research', organised by the Indian Ladies Association under the patronage of the Indian Embassy in Bahrain.

Tessy, who is the Director General of Aeronautical Systems and the former Project Director for Agni-IV missiles at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), said it would take a decade as the system of making aero-engines has to be developed in India.

"NAL (National Aerospace Laboratories) is on the design of that. A 90-seat aircraft is being designed. Saras is one version of it. It’s a matter of time. Our country lacks aero-engine manufacturing capability. We established the capability to manufacture engines and all other parts. It’s a matter of four to five years, and we’ll see some of our systems start flying. A two-seater, three-seater, and 20-seater types of things have already been done by HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.) as well," Tessy, who was the first woman scientist to head a missile project in India, said.