- Defence Science and Technology Organization
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Defence Science and Technology Organization Agency overview Formed Sometime between 1963 Preceding agency Strategic Plans Division (SPD) Jurisdiction Pakistan's government Headquarters Classified Employees Highly Classified Annual budget Highly Classified Agency executive Major-General Abdul Aziz Soomro, PA, Director-General Website not known The Defence Science and Technology Organization, best known as DESTO, is a defense science and technological sciences government agency of Pakistan Defence Forces located in Rawalpindi, Punjab province of Pakistan.[1] DESTO is an independent science and defence research organization, known for its research in aerospace and satellite technology.[2] The profiles and information of the DESTO's scientists, executive officers, and engineers working are not known.
DESTO's research and development activities cover a variety of disciplines, which include aerodynamics, rocket propulsion, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering defense electronics, computer systems, engineering, propellants, explosives, materials, satellite technology, and chemical and biological defense.[2] Due to heavy contribution to the science and technology as well as defence work, DESTO has emerged as one of the most known institution and is considered as one of the secret science organization and agency in Pakistan due to its secrecy.[1]
Contents
History
The establishment of DESTO was the brainchild and dream of Abdul Hafeez, a weapon scientist and a radiochemist.[3] DESTO was established by the military scientists belonging to Pakistan Armed Forces, in 1963, to serve the Pakistan Armed Forces by undertaking basic and applied research and reverse engineering.[3]
The DESTO performs under the auspicious of Ministry of Defence and it is a principal research and development agency. DESTO conducts research and development on weapon systems, technology, and renders technical advice on weapons-related scientific and technological issues to the Government of Pakistan.[3]
Aeronautics and Space Division
DESTO is perhaps better known for its research in the aeronautics, satellite technology, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering.[3] DESTO has been involved deeply in Pakistan's space program and have helped SUPARCO in manufacturing the liquid and solid propollent motors technology[3]. DESTO's scientist has been involved in Pakistan's military-purpose space program and has succussfully developed the surveillance electronics system for the Badr-B satellite.[3]
DESTO's research and development activities cover a variety of disciplines, which include aerodynamics, propulsion, defense electronics, computer systems, engineering, propellants, explosives, materials, and chemical and biological defense[3]. Besides providing research and development support to other defense research and production agencies in Pakistan, DESTO also provides support to government-owned public sector companies.[3]
Involvement in Nuclear Weapons
Further information: Project-706In 1974, following the surprise India's nuclear test — codename Smiling Buddha. Munir Ahmad Khan, and with Abdus Salam, chaired a meeting with the officials of DESTO.[4] Dr. Zaman Sheikh, a chemical engineer from DESTO, was tasked to developed chemical explosive lenses, tampers, and triggering mechanized system, necessary in the technology of the fission weapon.[4] The codename for this project was Wah Group Scientists (WGS), and the work was done in the Metallurgical Laboratory at the Wah Cantonment in 1978.[4] Later, it was renamed as Directorate for Technical Development (DTD), and was charged with the testing of the weapons.[4] After Pakistan conducted nuclear tests — codename Chagai-I and II — in May of 1998, the United States Government identified and sanctioned DESTO for involvement in Pakistan's nuclear and missile programs.[4] However, the details of its contribution to Pakistan's ballistic missile programs remain classified.[4] However, after Pakistan's heavy contribution on War on terror, the United States Government uplifted the sanctions on DESTO.[4]
See also
External links
- HITEC (Heavy Industries Taxila Education City – official website
- Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) brochure
- PakDef.info article – A Tank Factory for All Seasons
- DESTO
References
- ^ a b (GS), Global Security. "Defence Science & Technology Organization (DESTO)". Global Security.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/pakistan/desto.htm.
- ^ a b DESTO and PAF, Pakistan Military Consortium and Pakistan Armed Froces (2001). "Defence Science & Technology Organization" (html). Pakistan Military Consortium (PMC). Pakistan Military Consortium. http://www.pakdef.info/pakmilitary/companies.html. Retrieved 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h PAF, Pakistan Armed Froces (2001). "Defence Science and Technology Organization (DESTO)" (html). Pakistan Military Consortium (PMC). Pakistan Military Consortium (PMC). http://www.pakdef.info/pakmilitary/army/companies.html. Retrieved 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g Rehman, Shahidur (1999) [1999], "§5 The Group at Wah" (in English), Long Road to Chagai (1 ed.), Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory: Printwise Piblications, pp. 75–89
Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) Space centres Islamabad Mission Control Center · Lahore Satellite Laboratories · Instrumentation Laboratories (IL)Satellites Earth observationCommunicationExpendable Launch vehicles (ELV) Associated organizations Defence Science and Technology Organization (DESTO) · Astronomical Society · Student Satellite Programme · Meteorological Department · Air Force Strategic Command · Strategic Plans Division · Naval Technologies ComplexInstitutions Institute of Space Technology (IST) · Institute of Space and Planetary Astrophysics (Karachi University) · Department of Space Science (University of the Punjab) · Naval Laboratories (Naval Academy)Space observatories University Observatory (Karachi University) · Astronomical Observatory (University of the Punjab) · Naval Observatory (Navy)Primary spaceports Sonmiani Launch Complex (SLC), Tilla Launch Center (TLC), Naval Space Launch Complex (NSLC)People ScientistsAbdus Salam · Ishrat Hussain Usmani · Samad Rizvi · Abdul Majid (physicist) · Abdul Qadeer Khan · Wladyslaw Turowicz · Salim Mehmud · Ghulam MurtazaAstronautsSee also: Chronology of Pakistan's rocket tests Categories:- Defense companies of Pakistan
- Military of Pakistan
- Manufacturing plants in Pakistan
- Pakistan Army
- Military equipment of Pakistan
- Nuclear weapons programme of Pakistan
- Military research facilities of Pakistan
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