R.N. Agarwal, the revered architect of India’s Agni missile program, has passed away at the age of 84 due to health complications in Hyderabad. Agarwal, also known as Ram Narayan Agarwal, was the first director of the Agni missile project, a significant milestone in India’s defense capabilities.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the nation, the Indian government honored Agarwal with the Padma Shri in 1990 and the Padma Bhushan in 2000. He was also awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. Agarwal was widely recognized for his role in the development of long-range missiles and earned acclaim as a distinguished aerospace scientist.
Agarwal had a long association with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), leading the Agni missile program which began in 1983. DRDO scientists expressed their condolences over his passing, acknowledging the loss of a brilliant mind. Agarwal was educated at IIT Madras and the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
