Bengaluru, Mar 3 (IANS); State-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Chairman G. Satheesh Reddy is the joint winner of the 2019 Missile Systems Award given by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics in the US, said the Virginia-based aerospace technical society on Sunday.

"Reddy was selected for his over three decades of national contributions to indigenous design, development and deployment of diversified strategic and tactical missile systems, guided weapons, advanced avionics and navigation technologies in India," said the society in a statement.

Reddy, 55, is also the Defence Secretary and Director-General of DRDO's aerospace arm Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) here.

The other winner of the missile award, Rondell J. Wilson is the retired principal engineering fellow of Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Arizona.

"Wilson was selected for his technical leadership and innovation that has advanced the performance and capability of the world's premier missile defense systems," said the statement.

Though the awards will be presented at the society's Defence Forum on May 7-9 at the Kossiakoff Center at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, Reddy will receive his award in India.

"The award also recognises excellence in developing on implementing missile system technology or for inspired leadership of missile systems," added the statement.