Wing Commander Vettakkorumakankav Sivrama Narayanan has been engaged in the Planning and implementation of advanced electronic systems in the Indian Air force since October, 1957.

When Canberra bombers were introduced in the Indian Air Force, this officer was entrusted with the task of planning, organizing and commissioning the system of blind bombing with this aircraft. He was also instrumental in setting up the bombing range for Canberra aircraft at Bambina where the complete blind bombing system was put to trial. He also organised the systematic training of personnel in the planning and computations for this new bombing system.

In early 1962, he was intimately associated with the planning and formation of new Air Defence Ground Environment System for India together with a multi-channel communication system. This plan formed the basis of the subsequent discussions with the officials from the United States and United Kingdom for improving the air defence system and communication facilities of this country. However, during the Indo-Pak conflict in September, 1965 when U.S assistance was suddenly withdrawn, it was discovered that there were still many deficiencies which were vital for the operations of the new Air Defence System. The most important of them was the Manual Central Office Equipment require for the internal, point-to-point and air-to-ground communications and radio equipment for air-to-ground communication facilities. With remarkable initiative and inventive genius Wing Commander Narayanan planned, coordinated and established the required facilities entirely with indigenous equipment. Subsequently, with his characteristic confidence and resourcefulness, he successfully completed the installation programme with our own personnel and resources.

Wing Commander Narayanan has also been responsible for the development of a Line Unit for use with Teletype equipment. Large numbers of these units are required, and they used to be imported from abroad. The equipment developed by this officer has functioned efficiently and is now under production in the Indian Telephone Industries, Bangalore thus resulting in considerable saving of foreign exchange.

The contributions made by Wing Commander Vettkakorumakankav Sivarama Narayanan have been significant and farreaching.

Air Commodore Vettakkorumakankav Sivarama Narayanan, VSM (3549) Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics) was commissioned in the EngineeringﾃつｭBranch of the Air Force on 27th December, 1948. From April, 1968 to January, 1971 as Joint Director of Missiles in the Air Headquarters, Air Commodore Narayanan initiated and supervised a number of development programmes in rocketry and missiles with a view to self-reliance. One of these projects, the Rocket Assisted Take Off Motor has tremendous potential in increasing the operational efficiency and payload of the fighter bomber and interceptor aircraft. He also prepared the ground for the indigenisaion of the large scale Missile system with a view to self-sufficiency and buildﾃつｭup of competence in Missiles in India.

From February, 1972 onwards, as Director, Defence Research and Development Laboratory and Project Officer of one of the largest Research and Development Projects in India for the development of medium range SurfaceﾃつｭtoﾃつｭAir Missile, he built up the Defence Research and Development Laboratory virtually from scratch into an outstanding and premier institution in the Research and Development, and competence in Rockets and Missiles. The Laboratory has now a comprehensive and wide ranging infrastructure of fabrication facilities, test facilities, rocket test beds, test range equipment and a very, advanced competence level in Solid and Liquid Propulsion technology and Inertia Systems technology. He has harnessed and cocoordinated the various sister Research and Development Laboratories, and manufacturing agencies towards Missile Development and Production. He has built up in Defence Research and Development Laboratories the competence to manage large missile projects. He has above all, built up, encouraged and AVSM 1976 developed an outstanding team of motivated young scientists in the various areas of Missile Technology. He has, thus, founded, a solid and creative base for selfﾃつｭreliance in Missiles in our country. He is today one of the top Missile Technologists in India.

Air Commodore Narayanan has, thus, shown brilliant and outstanding qualities of leadership, organisation, technical competence and application, management, dedication and determination, and rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Vice Marshal Vettakkorumakankav Sivarama Narayanan was posted to the Defence Research and Development Laboratory in 1972, as its Director and Project Officer. There, he built up extensive and comprehensive infrastructure relating to rocket tests, flight range fabrication, aerodynamics, structural tests, environmental tests and quality control, He also built up technological competence in the fields of propulsion, navigation guidance, control, structures, computer science and system technology. He activated a number of sister Research and Development Laboratories and production units, in their respective areas of specialisation and production competence, as relevant to the large weapon systems. He also has motivated, trained and built up a team of young dedicated scientists to form the ﾃ｢竄ｬﾅ田ore" in the various areas of Missile Technology. These efforts have taken the shape of a complete integrated complex system for utilising and harnessing the resources of the various production units into a time-bound and cost-bound hardware development programme. Thereby a nucleus of powerful project management capability for large projects has been established.

Air Vice Marshal Vettakkorumakankav Sivarama Narayanan has thus rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.