Mr. S.K.Ray, born in December 1949 at Kolkata, obtained his B.E. and M.E. degrees in electronics from Jadavpur University, Kolkata, in 1971 and 1973 respectively with Computer and Control specializations. He joined DRDL, Hyderabad, a leading laboratory of DRDO in 1974. Since then he is responsible for design and development of Missile Control and Guidance.
First indigenous missile ‘TRISHUL’ is successfully flight tested with the autopilot and its electronics, designed by him in the year of 1986. This has demonstrated missile flight control system design capability within the country. Thereafter, Design, simulation and hardware realization for Electric, Electropnuematic and Electrohydraulic Actuation Servo have seen their production in Nag (Electric), Akash (Electropnuematic), Prithvi and Agni (Electrohydraulic) systems. AGNI and AKASH Autopilots Hardware and Software are his major contributions towards Development and Production of indigenous missiles. His close interaction with Industries, in India and abroad, resulted in quick delivery of Control System products to meet Project time schedule. Missile Control and Guidance design and simulation software tools developed by him are successfully used for above mentioned projects. 6DOF Simulation tool developed by him is used to validate Flight Control Laws. These are presently used by RCI scientists for current missile projects. His contribution towards design of Control and Homing Guidance Laws for indigenous Torpedo (TAL) led to the successful completion of first indigenous Torpedo development, which has entered into production.
His in-depth knowledge of Systems, Computers, Actuators, and Electronic subsystems, Structures, Aerodynamics, Inertial Sensors and Power Systems are being applied for development of Present and New-Generation Missiles and Weapon Systems. DRDO, on recognition of his achievements, awarded him the ‘Prime Minister’s Best Scientist of the Year 1996’ and ‘Prime Minister’s Agni excellence Award in 2002’. He has also bagged the prestigious Viswabharati Award given by Andhra Pradesh Government in the year 2000.RCI, DRDO completed development of several critical avionics components, subsystems having very critical technologies from 2011 to 2016 under his leadership. A book on ‘Missile Control System’ is authored by him, is released by Honorable President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam on 5th Aug. 2005. The book, educative to new scientists, is widely used by Aerospace Control Engineers.