BrahMos Aerospace has $5-b order book

Having demonstrated its awesome firepower on land and sea targets, Brahmos the supersonic cruise missile is all set to be tested in tough sub-sea environment as well as launched from an aircraft in 2012.

A product of Indo-Russian joint venture, Brahmos missile has hit the target 24 out of 25 times, powering its way as the most destructive weapon in the Indian Army’s armoury up to 300 km range. The missile reaches 2.8 mach speed (mach is speed of sound) as it inflicts heavy damage on enemy targets.

The Brahmos version that can be launched from a submarine or fired from an aircraft being developed by the BrahMos Aerospace company will be tested beginning early 2012, said Mr Sivathanu Pillai, Chief Executive Officer.

BrahMos Aerospace, which is a consortia of industry and labs from both India and Russia has completed 10 years. It was launched with a $300-million development fund created by the two countries. The efforts of the joint venture have resulted in the induction of the land and sea version into the Army and Navy.

The company is sitting pretty with an order book of $5 billion from the Indian armed forces. “We have an option of exporting the missile, but have refrained though there are enquiries as the domestic demand is very huge," Mr Pillai told Business Line here.

In the coming year, development work on the hypersonic version with speeds of Mach 7 will be initiated. The necessary efforts from both the Indian and Russian scientific and industrial establishments is on, he said.

The Indian Army has already raised two regiments, which are equipped with the missile and have the capability to use it a war situation. The third regiment is expected to be ready in 2013, he said. 

Business Line