Scientific career Ranjit Lal Jetley

maj. gen jetley demonstrating 105mm light field gun prototype designed team defence minister jagjivan ram

during second tenure (from 1958 onwards) tdes , defence research , development organisation, had distinguished career in various capacities. superintendent, proof , experiment establishment, conceived, planned , modernised previous ranges enable enhancement of indigenous production , evaluation of foreign manufacturer s claims.

in addition normal call of duties, had been responsible projecting new ideas led improvement in performance of various service equipments. few outstanding examples showing ingenuity , skill were:-

mounting of 75 mm high velocity french gun on sherman tank.
conversion of 4.7 naval gun mounting take 4.5 naval gun.
modification of 25 pdr carriage high angle fire.
universal slave carriage/mounting proof of calibre gun , ammunition (railway open wagon on broad gauge rails).

it estimated saved on 1 billion of assets in form of saving old tanks disposal. due efforts, production of 4.5 ammunition in country begin @ least 1 year earlier waiting such facility provided foreign supplier. facility inaugurated demonstrating proof of first lot of indigenous naval 4.5 ammunition in presence of admiral katari, chief of naval staff of india.

later jetley assigned special weapon design team. during period contribution planning , organisation along others resulted in establishing defence research , development laboratories rockets , missile.

jetley s contribution admired in raising of terminal ballistic research laboratory research in field of transient phenomenon involving detonation of explosives.

thus reasonable amount of credit setting of these 2 major laboratories equipped modern instrumentation goes him.

he exhibited first uncontrolled flight of short range missile defence minister @ tuglakabad ranges in 1961 desired scientific adviser dr. bhagwantam. success had great contribution wing commander sethna , dr. bensal.

in 1968, assigned directorate general of inspection, quality assurance organisation, where, senior inspector of armaments , gauges, further excelled performance , responsible improving quality of inspection of 40 mm anti-aircraft guns. instrumental in enhancing production of mountain guns @ heavy engineering corporation @ ranchi , gun carriage factory jabalpur commended secretary defence production , dgof. hence sent training sweden in air defence systems bofors , became member of technical committee indian collaboration.

in 1971, raised controllerate of inspection (weapons) great bonus during 1971 war inspection of imported weapons. after war contributed making assessment of effect of pakistani weapons guide future improvements , defect investigations. 1973 director of inspection (armaments), responsible increasing pace of indigenisation in private sector. later helped in establishing production of anti-tank ammunition revising acceptance criteria, after return jefferson proving grounds in usa.

he encouraged export of armaments director of inspection (armaments) , later nominated defence secretary go ffv sweden inspect first 84 mm carl gustaf rocket launcher consignment.

he assigned in 1976 develop light field gun of 105 mm army. in short period date of take over, produced first proto-type involving induction of modern materials (three new varieties of steel developed @ durgapur steel plant) , sophisticated technology in field of gun development resulting in light carriage of half weight , india s first ordnance design. simultaneously, developed time fuze carrier shells of long range guns modifying existing time fuze. development of smoke , hesh ammunition light gun ifg mark ii , ifg mark had contribution.