Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), the Hyderabad-based defence PSU under the Ministry of Defence, has announced the appointment of Dr. Jagannath Nayak as a Part-Time Official Director (Government Director) on its Board. The move, approved by the competent authority under the Department of Defence Production, MoD, will take effect from the date of DIN allotment, with the company noting that the DIN is currently being processed. The intimation of the appointment was received by BDL on 07 October 2026.
Dr. Jagannath Nayak brings more than three decades of defence research and development experience to the board. Known for his work in indigenous avionics development and advanced defence technologies, Nayak led the development and field testing of India’s first Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) system as Director of CHESS. He is also credited with pioneering Fibre Optic Gyro guidance for Akash missiles and DEW-based anti-drone systems, having steered Fibre Optic Gyroscopes development at the Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad. An IISc alumnus, Nayak holds an MS and a PhD in Electrical Communication Engineering, and has served as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at IISc and IIT Madras.
Beyond his technical achievements, Nayak is recognized for leadership and ecosystem-building—having founded the IEEE Photonics Society, Hyderabad Chapter, and contributing to India’s defence R&D landscape through academia and industry collaborations. He has published extensively on directed energy weapons, inertial navigation, lasers, and fiber optics, positioning him to offer strategic guidance at the board level as India continues to strengthen self-reliance in defence technologies.
BDL’s boardroom addition signals a closer alignment between governance and high-end defence R&D capabilities, with Nayak’s forthcoming role expected to infuse deep technical insight into strategic decisions at the company. As a Part-Time Official Director, he will help shape the trajectory of BDL in its mission to deliver advanced defence solutions while reinforcing public sector leadership in India’s defence manufacturing and innovation ecosystem.