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Russia has clearly indicated that the Indo-Russian supersonic cruise missile BrahMos will only be available in the global defence market once Indian Defence Forces are fully equipped with the missile.
The director general and chief designer of the NPO Machine Building Military-Industrial Corporation, Alexander Leonov, indicated that there are no ‘third country’ contracts for the BrahMos missile despite large interest from the world.
The BrahMos cruise missile will be tested from a vertical launcher on board a ship and the missile is expected to be installed onboard at least nine Indian Navy ships
Other developmental work was also being carried out to install the missile onboard aircraft carriers and submarines, according to sources.
An airborne version of the BrahMos missile is currently under development as well.
Meanwhile, India is also hoping to make the BrahMos missile indigenous.
Currently, India only makes the inertial navigation guidance system and fire control system of the BrahMos missile while Russia continues to contribute the crucial engine, booster and seeker.
This will only enable Russia to determine the important aspects of the commercial prospect of the missile. Hence, India is aiming to rise up to the challenge of developing the critical technologies of the BrahMos missile indigenously.
Interestingly, the CEO of BrahMos project, Dr A Sivathanu Pillai, has officially proposed to the government that he be appointed the head of a “ManTech (Manufacturing Technology) Cell” and report exclusively to the Secretary, Defence Production.
Formulation of policy statement on ManTech along with creation of Project Management as part of BrahMos Joint Venture under Secretary of Defence Production will enable India to be self-reliant in the field of supersonic and hypersonic cruise missiles of various ranges.
Dr. Pillai’s aim is to make the BrahMos missile a fully Indian missile and not let Russia call all the shots in the future.
Dr. Pillai feels that the real technologies that are available to India for production of missiles are not available anywhere in the world. It is time that India indigenised these technologies and became capable of bulk production.
The BrahMos joint venture was established in 1998 under an agreement between India and Russia and its first test was carried out on 12 June 2001.
So far, more than 20 satisfactory launches of the cruise missile have taken place from ships, land-based fixed and mobile launchers.
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