NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of the esteemed scientist S Arunachalam, aged 87.

V S Arunachalam, who previously held the position of Director General at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), breathed his last in the United States on Wednesday, as confirmed by his family through an official statement.

"With deep sorrow and an overwhelming sense of loss, we regret to announce the passing of Dr. V S Arunachalam. He departed peacefully in his slumber, surrounded by his immediate family in California," the statement conveyed.

"Dr. V.S. Arunachalam's demise creates a significant void in the scientific community and the realm of strategic affairs. His profound knowledge, fervor for research, and substantial contributions to fortifying India's security capabilities earned him tremendous admiration. Our condolences to his family and sympathizers. Om Shanti," PM Modi shared on platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

His illustrious career extended across the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), National Aeronautical Laboratory, and Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory.

Arunachalam led the helm of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and served as the Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister from 1982 to 1992.

He was honored with the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award in 1980, followed by the Padma Bhushan in 1985, and the Padma Vibhushan in 1990, all recognizing his invaluable contributions to engineering science and technology. As the inaugural Indian Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (UK), Arunachalam additionally held positions on advisory and editorial boards for numerous universities and foundations, including the Materials Research Society Bulletin.

He initiated three major programs: the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) under the autonomous Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA); the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) Programme; and the IGMDP (Integrated Guided Missiles Development Programme) aimed at crafting a family of strategic and tactical guided missiles.

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