“Agniputri.”
• The name the media gave her after she took charge of Agni-IV
Tessy Thomas is an Indian aerospace engineer from Alappuzha, Kerala, known as India's Missile Woman. She designed guidance schemes for long-range missiles used across the Agni series and became project director of Agni-IV in 2009.
Her Bengaluru link needed checking, and it holds: in June 2018 she moved to Bengaluru as DRDO's Director General of Aeronautical Systems, the first woman in that post, and served until April 2023. This profile covers the documented record.
Quick Information
She spent decades aiming missiles, then spent five years steering the aircraft labs of the city that builds India's planes.
Who Is Tessy Thomas?
She is a DRDO scientist who spent most of her career on India's Agni missile programme, working on guidance, trajectory simulation and mission design.
What Did She Do on the Agni Programme?
She was associated with Agni from its developmental flights, worked as assistant project director on Agni-III and became project director of Agni-IV in 2009. She was among the first women anywhere to head a major missile project.
What Is Her Bengaluru Connection?
She led DRDO's aeronautics cluster from Bengaluru. In June 2018 she moved to the city as Director General of Aeronautical Systems, overseeing a cluster of Bengaluru-based laboratories, and held the post until April 2023.
Why Is Bengaluru Home to DRDO Aeronautics?
Because the city is India's aerospace hub. Labs such as the Centre for Airborne Systems and agencies such as the Aeronautical Development Agency are based here, alongside HAL.
She began her DRDO journey as a faculty member in guided missiles at the Institute of Armament Technology, Pune, in 1986.
Why Does Tessy Thomas Belong in People of Bangalore?
She headed DRDO's Bengaluru-based aeronautics cluster for five years, from 2018 to 2023.
FAQs
Who is Tessy Thomas?
An Indian aerospace engineer known as the Missile Woman of India for her work on the Agni missiles.
Did Tessy Thomas work in Bengaluru?
Yes. She was DRDO's Director General of Aeronautical Systems in Bengaluru from June 2018 to April 2023.
Where is Tessy Thomas from?
Alappuzha, Kerala.
Why is she called Agniputri?
The media gave her the name after she became project director of Agni-IV.
Worked in a DRDO Lab?
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