DST-DRDO Institutes Sign MoU to Strengthen India’s Space Situational Awareness

Dehradun: In a significant development for India’s space surveillance capabilities, the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital—an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST)—has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Instruments Research & Development Establishment (IRDE), Dehradun, a key laboratory under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

The MoU, signed today at IRDE by Dr. Manish Kumar Naja, Director of ARIES, and Dr. Ajay Kumar, Director of IRDE, marks the beginning of a strategic collaboration to utilize ARIES’s advanced observational infrastructure and scientific expertise in astronomy to support and enhance India’s ground-based Space Situational Awareness (SSA) systems.

ARIES, known for its excellence in astronomy, astrophysics, and atmospheric sciences, operates state-of-the-art national observing facilities, including the 3.6-meter Devasthal Optical Telescope and the ST Radar system. IRDE is a premier DRDO institution engaged in designing and developing electro-optical surveillance systems for the armed forces across land, sea, air, and space platforms.

The partnership aims to integrate ARIES’s observational capabilities with IRDE’s technological expertise to monitor space objects and develop advanced electro-optical systems for both astronomical and SSA applications. The collaboration will also focus on developing sophisticated image processing and data analysis techniques, incorporating artificial intelligence and machine learning tools. The two institutes will undertake joint research and development initiatives, technical exchanges, and training activities to build capacity in this critical area.

This agreement represents a strategic alignment of two major scientific institutions in Uttarakhand and is expected to serve national interests by strengthening India’s SSA infrastructure. The close geographic proximity of ARIES and IRDE is likely to facilitate regular interaction, efficient access to facilities, and coordinated joint activities.

The MoU signing was witnessed by senior scientists and officials from both institutions, including Dr. Brijesh Kumar and Dr. T. S. Kumar from ARIES, and Ruma Dhaka, Dr. Sudhir Khare, Dr. Manavendra Singh, Abhijit Chakraborty, and Bharat Ram Meena from IRDE.