Defence Science and Technology Organization
Encyclopedia
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
. DESTO is an independent science and defence research organization, known for its research in aerospace and satellite technology. 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. 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.
, a weapon scientist and a radiochemist
. 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
.
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.
, satellite technology, aerospace engineering
, mechanical engineering
. DESTO has been involved deeply in Pakistan's space program and have helped SUPARCO in manufacturing the liquid and solid propollent motors technology. 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.
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. 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.
's nuclear test — codename Smiling Buddha
. Munir Ahmad Khan
, and with Abdus Salam
, chaired a meeting with the officials of DESTO. 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. 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. Later, it was renamed as Directorate for Technical Development (DTD), and was charged with the testing of the weapons. 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. However, the details of its contribution to Pakistan's ballistic missile programs remain classified. However, after Pakistan's heavy contribution on War on terror
, the United States Government uplifted the sanctions on DESTO.
Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
, Punjab province
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. DESTO is an independent science and defence research organization, known for its research in aerospace and satellite technology. 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
Aerodynamics
Aerodynamics is a branch of dynamics concerned with studying the motion of air, particularly when it interacts with a moving object. Aerodynamics is a subfield of fluid dynamics and gas dynamics, with much theory shared between them. Aerodynamics is often used synonymously with gas dynamics, with...
, rocket propulsion, aerospace engineering
Aerospace engineering
Aerospace engineering is the primary branch of engineering concerned with the design, construction and science of aircraft and spacecraft. It is divided into two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering...
, mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
, chemical engineering
Chemical engineering
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with physical science , and life sciences with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms...
, electrical engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
defense electronics, computer systems, engineering, propellants, explosives, materials, satellite technology, and chemical and biological defense. Due to heavy contribution to the science and technology
Science and technology
Science and technology is a term of art used to encompass the relationship between science and technology. It frequently appears within titles of academic disciplines and government offices.-See also:...
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.
History
The establishment of DESTO was the brainchild and dream of Abdul HafeezAbdul Hafeez (Chemist)
Dr. Prof. Abdul Hafeez was a Pakistani weapon scientist and radiochemist. Hafeez was one of the early pioneer of Pakistan Ordnance Factories at Wah Cantt who made an extraordanary efforts to build and develop medium and high-tech weapons for Pakistan Armed Forces...
, a weapon scientist and a radiochemist
Radiochemistry
Radiochemistry is the chemistry of radioactive materials, where radioactive isotopes of elements are used to study the properties and chemical reactions of non-radioactive isotopes...
. 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
Reverse engineering
Reverse engineering is the process of discovering the technological principles of a device, object, or system through analysis of its structure, function, and operation...
.
The DESTO performs under the auspicious of Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (Pakistan)
The Ministry of Defence , is a federal government ministry tasked with coordinating and supervising all major government agencies and federal departments of the government relating directly to National security and the Pakistan Defense Forces...
and it is a principal research and development
Research and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
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.
Aeronautics and Space Division
DESTO is perhaps better known for its research in the aeronauticsAeronautics
Aeronautics is the science involved with the study, design, and manufacturing of airflight-capable machines, or the techniques of operating aircraft and rocketry within the atmosphere...
, satellite technology, aerospace engineering
Aerospace engineering
Aerospace engineering is the primary branch of engineering concerned with the design, construction and science of aircraft and spacecraft. It is divided into two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering...
, mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
. DESTO has been involved deeply in Pakistan's space program and have helped SUPARCO in manufacturing the liquid and solid propollent motors technology. 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
Badr-B
Badr-B The Badr-B payload was equipped with several CCD cameras, compact dosimeter, a telemetry system, charge detector and a temperature control unit...
satellite.
DESTO's research and development activities cover a variety of disciplines, which include aerodynamics
Aerodynamics
Aerodynamics is a branch of dynamics concerned with studying the motion of air, particularly when it interacts with a moving object. Aerodynamics is a subfield of fluid dynamics and gas dynamics, with much theory shared between them. Aerodynamics is often used synonymously with gas dynamics, with...
, propulsion
Vehicle propulsion
Vehicle propulsion refers to the act of moving an artificial carrier of people or goods over any distance. The power plant used to drive the vehicles can vary widely. Originally, humans or animals would have provided the propulsion system, later being supplemented by wind power...
, defense electronics, computer systems, engineering, propellants, explosives, materials, and chemical and biological defense. 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.
Involvement in Nuclear Weapons
In 1974, following the surprise IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
's nuclear test — codename Smiling Buddha
Smiling Buddha
The Smiling Buddha, formally designated as Pokhran-I, was the codename given to Republic of India's first nuclear test explosion that took place at the long-constructed Indian Army base, Pokhran Test Range at Pokhran municipality, Rajasthan state on 18 May 1974 at 8:05 a.m....
. Munir Ahmad Khan
Munir Ahmad Khan
Munir Ahmad Khan , HI, was a Pakistani nuclear engineer and a scientist who served as the Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission from 1972 to 1991...
, and with Abdus Salam
Abdus Salam
Mohammad Abdus Salam, NI, SPk Mohammad Abdus Salam, NI, SPk Mohammad Abdus Salam, NI, SPk (Urdu: محمد عبد السلام, pronounced , (January 29, 1926– November 21, 1996) was a Pakistani theoretical physicist and Nobel laureate in Physics for his work on the electroweak unification of the...
, chaired a meeting with the officials of DESTO. Dr. Zaman Sheikh, a chemical engineer
Chemical engineer
In the field of engineering, a chemical engineer is the profession in which one works principally in the chemical industry to convert basic raw materials into a variety of products, and deals with the design and operation of plants and equipment to perform such work...
from DESTO, was tasked to developed chemical
Chemical explosive
The vast majority of explosives are chemical explosives. Explosives usually have less potential energy than fuels, but their high rate of energy release produces a great blast pressure...
explosive lenses
Explosive lens
An explosive lens—as used, for example, in nuclear weapons—is a highly specialized explosive charge, a special type of a shaped charge. In general, it is a device composed of several explosive charges that are shaped in such a way as to change the shape of the detonation wave passing through it,...
, tampers
Tamper
Tamper can mean:*Tamp, a device used to compact or flatten an aggregate or other powdered or granular material, like ground coffee or gravel*A tool used to pack tobacco into a smoking pipe, as well as to flatten or scoop the ash; usually nail-shaped and sometimes combined into a pipe tool*Ballast...
, and triggering mechanized system, necessary in the technology
Nuclear technology
Nuclear technology is technology that involves the reactions of atomic nuclei. Among the notable nuclear technologies are nuclear power, nuclear medicine, and nuclear weapons...
of the fission weapon. The codename for this project was Wah Group Scientists (WGS), and the work was done in the Metallurgical Laboratory
Metallurgical Laboratory
The Metallurgical Laboratory or "Met Lab" at the University of Chicago was part of the World War II–era Manhattan Project, created by the United States to develop an atomic bomb...
at the Wah Cantonment in 1978. Later, it was renamed as Directorate for Technical Development (DTD), and was charged with the testing of the weapons. After Pakistan conducted nuclear tests — codename Chagai-I
Chagai-I
The Chagai-I was a codename referring to the five underground nuclear tests conducted by Pakistan at 15:15hrs in 28th May of 1998. It was named Chagai-I, as the tests were conducted in the Chagai District...
and II — in May of 1998, the United States Government identified and sanctioned DESTO for involvement in Pakistan's nuclear and missile programs. However, the details of its contribution to Pakistan's ballistic missile programs remain classified. However, after Pakistan's heavy contribution on War on terror
War on Terror
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
, the United States Government uplifted the sanctions on DESTO.