Defence scientist Chandramouli Gaddamanugu has been awarded the Padma Shri 2026 for his contribution to the development of India’s indigenous Akash missile system. He spent more than three decades working on the programme, which began in 1983 and progressed through years of research, testing and engineering before entering service with the Indian armed forces.
The Akash system attracted renewed attention during Operation Sindoor in 2025, when India’s indigenous air-defence capabilities came into focus. Gaddamanugu was among the scientists who helped develop the system from its early stages into an operational defence platform.
From a Small Research Team to a Major Defence Programme
Gaddamanugu joined the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) in Hyderabad in 1983, when work on Akash began under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme. Led initially by scientist Prahlada Rama Rao, the project aimed to develop an indigenous surface-to-air missile system at a time when India had limited domestic experience in several of the required technologies.
The task involved more than developing a missile. The system required radar equipment to detect aerial targets, computers to calculate their movement, launchers to prepare the weapons and command systems to coordinate the different components.
Akash also uses an integral ramjet propulsion system designed to sustain supersonic flight. Developing the technology required repeated trials, technical investigations and modifications to address engineering challenges.
Key Milestones in Akash’s Development
A major breakthrough came in 1994, when Akash completed a successful full-duration flight. Gaddamanugu served as vehicle director during the milestone trial, overseeing missile integration and testing. The programme continued through further evaluations and improvements before production began in 2009. The Indian Air Force inducted the system in 2015, and the Indian Army also brought it into service that year.
Akash is an indigenous surface-to-air missile system designed to detect, track and engage multiple aerial threats. Its operation depends on the coordinated performance of radars, command-and-control equipment, launchers and missiles. The programme has also supported the development of domestic capabilities in defence electronics, propulsion and systems integration.
Akash and Operation Sindoor
The missile system received wider public attention during Operation Sindoor in May 2025. DRDO material and reporting on the operation highlighted Akash’s role in India’s air-defence response to aerial threats. Its deployment demonstrated the importance of systems developed and produced within the country.
The operational significance of Akash reflects decades of work by scientists, engineers, technicians and manufacturing teams. Its development required collaboration across multiple disciplines, from propulsion and missile design to radar integration and flight testing.
Padma Shri Recognises Decades of Defence Research
Gaddamanugu’s Padma Shri recognises his contribution to science and engineering through a long career in defence research. His work formed part of a broader effort to reduce dependence on imported systems and strengthen India’s ability to design, test and manufacture advanced military technology.
The Akash programme’s journey from early research in 1983 to induction into the armed forces illustrates the time and sustained investment required to develop complex defence systems. Gaddamanugu’s recognition also brings attention to the teams of scientists and engineers whose work often remains behind the scenes but contributes to India’s defence capabilities.
