After rising to the ranks of lieutenant general in the army and air marshal in the air force, a woman is now set to head the country’s key missile project.
Dr Tessy Thomas, 45, one of around 200 women scientists and technicians working for the Defence Research Development Organisation, has been cleared for the post of project director of the upgraded version of the 2,000-km nuclear capable Agni-II missile.
She is presently associate project director of the 3,000-km range Agni-III project.
Asked about the new version of the Agni-II, which is being planned, Thomas said: "It is still a confidential project. It will be called Agni-II A (2)."
"I like my job. I feel I am contributing to my nation’s security," Thomas, who has named her son after the light combat fighter Tejas, said.