The tenure of Dr. Samir V Kamat as the Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has been extended for an additional year by the Centre, according to a government order issued on Monday.
Dr. Kamat, who assumed the role of DRDO chief in August 2022, was originally scheduled to retire on May 31, 2024. However, with the recent extension, he will now continue in his position until May 31, 2025.
Recognized as a proactive leader within the organisation, Dr. Kamat is tasked with overseeing the implementation of government-initiated reforms aimed at enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of DRDO, with a particular emphasis on advancing core science and technology domains.
Having obtained his B.Tech (Hons) in Metallurgical Engineering from IIT-Kharagpur in 1985 and completing his PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from The Ohio State University, USA in 1988, Dr. Kamat joined DRDO in 1989. Since then, he has played a pivotal role in spearheading numerous critical material programmes, contributing significantly to various defence systems developed by DRDO laboratories.
Dr. Kamat's achievements include leadership in the development of high-strength steels for naval ship hulls, high-temperature titanium alloys, nickel-based and superalloy-based components for aero engines, tungsten heavy alloys for kinetic energy penetrators, fused silica radomes for missile seekers, armour solutions for personnel and combat vehicles, and stealth materials for airborne and naval applications.
Moreover, he has led initiatives in the development of naval systems such as advanced lightweight torpedoes, anti-torpedo decoy systems, autonomous underwater vehicles, advanced hull-mounted and towed array sonars for ships, and fuel cell-based air-independent propulsion systems for submarines.
Dr. Kamat's contributions have been acknowledged through numerous accolades, including being named a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) and the Institution of Engineers India (IEI). He has also received prestigious awards such as the Distinguished Alumni Award from IIT-Kharagpur, the Metallurgist of the Year Award from the Ministry of Steel, and the Scientist of the Year Award from DRDO.
Additionally, Dr. Samir V Kamat has authored over 180 papers in international peer-reviewed journals, further demonstrating his expertise and contributions to the field of defence research and development.
