Shri.Harikumar Raghavan Nair took charge as Director (Research & Development) of Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a Navratna Defence Public Sector Undertaking, on May 2, 2025. He was appointed as a Director on the Board of BEL-THALES Systems Limited with effect from June 1, 2025. Prior to his elevation, he served as General Manager (Technology Planning) from February 1, 2022
Shri HariKumar Raghavan Nair began his journey with BEL on May 1, 1989, as a Probationary Engineer after completing his B. Tech in Electronics & Communication Engineering from the College of Engineering, Trivandrum, Kerala. Over a career spanning more than 35 years, he has made significant contributions in Development & Engineering (D&E), consistently supporting manufacturing through high-quality designs and precise engineering documentation.
Shri HariKumar Raghavan Nair is a strong advocate for cross-functional collaboration and technology-led self-reliance. With extensive experience in D&E, technology transfer (ToT), knowledge management, production, and procurement, he firmly believes that every function within the organization must be respected and empowered for collective success. He credits his professional journey and growth to the support and mentorship of his dedicated colleagues and seniors at BEL.
Key Contributions & Milestones:
- Integral member of the teams that developed India’s first 65-Kelvin C-band and Extended-C-band Low Noise Amplifiers for VSNL and Doordarshan Satcom earth stations.
- Pioneered development of Gallium Nitride (GaN)-based transmitters for communication and radar applications, as well as C-Band Quad Transmit-Receive (T/R) Modules for phased array radars and solid-state amplifiers replacing legacy microwave tubes.
- During the COVID-19 first wave in 2020, led efforts that resulted in BEL’s certification to ISO 13485:2016 (Medical Devices Standard) within 45 days, and completion of Pre-Dispatch Inspection of 30,000 ICU Ventilator Systems (comprising 1.5 lakh sub-systems) in just 3.5 months.
- Played a pivotal role in the revival of the Components Strategic Business Unit (SBU) during 2020–2022, streamlining procurement and scaling production across diverse product lines.
- As GM (Technology Planning), he drove initiatives to accelerate R&D processes and project delivery, reinforcing BEL’s innovation pipeline.
- His teams have been recognized with several BEL R&D Awards, SODET Awards, and the prestigious Raksha Mantri Awards.
- Multiple patent applications have been filed under his leadership, reflecting a strong culture of innovation and IP generation.