Antony favours Brahmos model to develop worldclass Def Products

New Delhi, Dec 28 (UNI) Defence Minister AK Antony today favoured more BrahMos-type cooperation with the industry to develop world-class defence products for the country.

Addressing a large gathering of scientists, industrialists and service personnel from both Russia and India after his maiden visit to the Missile Centre here, the Defence Minister said the supersonic cruise missile BrahMos had given a boost to the country's defence preparedness with its speed, precision and power.

He further called for the quick development of the air version of the missile for its early induction into the Indian Air Force -- the Indian Army and the Indian Navy have already accepted the missile for induction and placed the order for production. The serial production of the missile has already commenced.

The Defence Minister spent over two hours at the BrahMos Aerospace Complex where he was briefed by its Chief Dr A Shivathanu Pillai, and Joint Managing Director Alexander Maksichev besides other top scientists.

A large number of senior officials and technologists, including Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal B N Gokhale, Director General Artillery Lt Gen AS Bajwa, representatives from the Russian Embassy, senior officers of the three services and captains of various public and private industries involved in the project were present on the occasion.

Minister Antony visited the BrahMos exposition where he was briefed about the technological complexity and the superiority of this supersonic cruise missile. Among the notable features in the exposition which caught the Minister's interest were displays depicting the long association of India and Russia in various fields.

The Minister was particularly impressed with the capabilities of this missile which is capable of being launched from land, sea, sub-sea and air.

He was given a video demonstration of all the past missile firings.

The Defence Minister also visited the BrahMos technology exhibition to witness the fullscale missile hardware and acquainted himself with the process of missile integration for which elaborate facilities have been established at Hyderabad. The BrahMos design team briefed him on the major plans currently being undertaken by them and also the future plans.

The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile has evolved out of the joint efforts of Indian and Russian scientists under the joint venture company BrahMos Aerospace, DRDO of India and NPO Mashinostroyenia of Russia along with a consortium of Indian and Russian industries.

The company came into existence consequent to an Inter-Governmental agreement signed between the two countries in February 1998. The acronym BrahMos is perceived as the coming together of two great nations represented by two great rivers -- the fury of River Brahmaputra of India and the grace of River Moskva of Russia. The aim of the company is to design, develop, produce and market the Supersonic Cruise Missile BrahMos.

The missile can fly at 208 times the speed of sound. It can carry warheads up to 200 kg in weight and has a maximum range of 290 km.

The missile is capable of being launched from multiple platforms based on land, sea, sub-sea and air. The modular design of the missile and its capability of being launched at different orientations enables it to be integrated with a wide spectrum of platforms like warships, submarines, different types of aircraft, Mobile Autonomous Launchers and silos.

The company started its activities in 1998. The capabilities of the missile have been demonstrated in ten successive successful flight tests starting from June 2001. Combat firings of the missile have been conducted in April 2005.

Tremendous potential exists for export of the missile. Various countries have shown interests in purchasing the missile.

UNI DG VD KN1835