Dr. Tessy Thomas, former Director General (aeronautics), DRDO and project director of Agni IV Missile and Agni V Mission, Government of India on Tuesday, August 1, said that India will be in a position to manufacture engines for commercial airliners in the next two decades with scientists working on developing civilian aircraft engines. The National Aerospace Laboratories, Bengaluru is in the process of developing Saras, a 90-seater civilian aircraft in the light transport aircraft category, she stated.
Responding to questions from students after her talk at the 61st Foundation Day at the Regional Institute of Education (RIE), she said the alloys used in designing the structure of the aircraft are not available in the country. Nevertheless, the efforts are on to manufacture engines for commercial airplanes, she said, while replying to questions on why India has not been able to make large aircraft when it has made rapid strides in aerospace engineering.
On the occasion, Dr. Thomas delivered the Sardar Panikkar Memorial Lecture, where she shared her journey in the DRDO and the making of Agni missiles.
