K Rajalakshmi Menon Appointed DG (Aero) of DRDO

K Rajalakshmi Menon has been promoted to Director General (Aero) of DRDO, adding to her role as Director of the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS). She has been with DRDO since 1988 and has been pivotal in the development of airborne surveillance systems. Menon holds a PhD in Aerospace Engineering.

In a significant appointment, K Rajalakshmi Menon has been named the Director General (Aero) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), while also holding the charge of Director, Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS).

"Dr. K Rajalakshmi Menon as DG (Aero) will now be responsible for all programmes under the Aero Cluster, which will operate under her visionary leadership," stated an official communiqué released on Tuesday.

Joining DRDO as Scientist-B at CABS in 1988 after obtaining her MSc from the University of Pune, Menon further advanced her academic qualifications with a Masters in Engineering and a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science. She has been instrumental in designing and developing Airborne Surveillance Systems, demonstrating expertise in System Engineering of Complex Systems, C4ISR, and Battle Management, among other areas.

By 2015, she had ascended to the role of Associate Programme Director (Airborne Early Warning & Control), leading mission-critical projects that culminated in the induction of the AEW&C system into the Indian Air Force in 2017. Under her guidance, India became the fifth nation globally to achieve an indigenous Active Electronically Scanned Array-based AEW&C system. Additionally, Menon spearheaded projects focusing on Imaging Radars for various platforms, including UAVs and satellites.

(With inputs from agencies.)