After rising to the ranks of Lt Generals in the army and Air Marshals in the IAF, a woman is now set to head the country's key missile project.

45-year-old Dr Tessy Thomas, one of the around 200 women scientists and technicians working for the DRDO, has been cleared to be appointed to the post of project director of the upgraded version of the 2000 km-long nuclear capable Agni-II missile.

Thomas is presently the Associate Project Director of the 3,000 km range Agni-III missile project.

Asked about the new version of Agni-II being planned, Thomas, who was honoured along with the entire team of Agni-III by the prime minister, said, "It is still a confidential project. It will be called Agni-II A (2)."

"I like my job. I feel I am contributing to my nation's security," Thomas, who has named her son after the country's light combat fighter Tejas, said.
A B.Tech from Thrissur Engineering College, Kozhikode in Kerala [Images] and M.Tech from Pune, Thomas is an expert on all solid system propellant.

Thomas, who did the post analysis of the failure of the first Agni-III missile, said there were some shortcomings in the test of the missile which were overcome for a smooth flawless test flight on May 7.

There are 20 other women scientists working along with Thomas on the Agni-III programme.

A lot of women scientists like Thomas are propelling India's strategic weapons programme including long range missiles.

According to official figures, there were up to 200 women scientists involved in India's key weapon programmes like missiles, tanks, naval systems and even light combat aircrafts (LCAs).