Its first flight trial on June 12, 2001 had catapulted India into the category of the only nation capable to produce its own supersonic cruise missile with a range of 290 km and a capability to be fired from land, air and sea. The joint venture with Russia to develop BrahMos, which takes its name from Brahmputra and Moskova rivers, changed India’s position from arms importer to co-developer.
Since then the BrahMos has been inducted in the Indian Army and Navy. Modifications are being carried out on the frontline fighter jets Sukhoi Su-30MKI to integrate BrahMos on the platform. Presently BrahMos can be launched from land, air and sea; and an underwater BrahMos will be ready for test by the end of this financial year.
However, the decade long journey to establish BrahMos as a reliable, precision weapon has not been easy. The project was mooted in 1993 after approval from then Prime Minister Narsimhan Rao. In 1995 Brahmos Aerospace was registered in Delhi. But it was in 1998 that the Joint Venture was formed and funds started flowing in.
CEO BrahMos Dr A Sivthanu Pillai said: “A joint venture for the missile development was new for both the parties (India and Russia). While Russians had the liquid ramjet engine we had the upper hand in the ground systems like fire control systems, launchers. So we decided to pool in our resources and knowledge to achieve BrahMos.”
“To get funds for the project was another challenge. While the Indian government readily provided money, Russians had difficulty in securing money for the project due to regime change in Moscow,” revealed Pillai. The problem was sorted out in 1999 when Russia diverted the loan payment done by India is lieu of the weapons purchased in 1970’s as an investment for the project. Thereafter a JV was established with 50.5 percent Indian stake and 49.5 percent Russian stake.
The project was a well kept secret till the first test flight of BrahMos from Chandipur test range in Orissa on June 12, 2001, the day happens to be Russia day as well. Till then the team of 38 Indian scientists were working from a rented accommodation in Delhi’s Vasant Vihar area to execute the dream of one billion people.
“Not a single news report had appeared on the project before the flight test,” Pillai reminisced, while adding, “In fact I had written to the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and defence minister Jaswant Singh to announce India’s achievement to the world.” Following approval from the Prime Minister the premier military research organization Defence Research and Development Organisation issued a press release on the morning of June 12, 2001 took the world by surprise.
Till date the world is way behind in development of a supersonic cruise missile. The US’ proposed Fast Hawk and Europeans’ ANS is presently on drawing board.
Beaming with pride, Dr. Pillai a distinguished scientist said, “The Indian Army is the only force in the world which has supersonic cruise missile. The Russian Moskit is an anti-ship missile and does not have a land or aerial variant.”
The BrahMos is a two-stage missile with solid propelled booster engine as its first stage which brings it to supersonic speed and then gets separated. The liquid ramjet of the second stage then takes the missile closer to Mach 3 speed (nearly three times the speed of the sound) speed in cruise phase. It flies at low altitudes and has the ability to evade enemy radars and air-defence systems. They are also easier and cheaper to operate
“The reaction time for the missile – from giving command to take off is just four minutes. Thereafter every missile can be fired in 2.5 seconds,” Dr. Pillai informed.
Different from other defence establishments, BrahMos has got a specialized marketing division to sell the world class product to other countries.
Talking about the export plans, Dr. Pillai added: “In the next 10 years we are looking at capturing 20 percent of the global missile market. We are aiming to export 1000 missile systems to friendly countries after meeting requirements of our armed forces.” Each missile costs nearly Rs. 100 million. The Army and Navy have already inducted the missiles and upgradation of Su-30 MKI should be complete by 2012.
Russia has also amended its law which prohibited weapons manufactured outside country from being deployed on its soil. “Earlier Russia refused to purchase BrahMos citing this law. But they have amended it to make room for products manufactured under joint venture. And chances of induction of BrahMos in Russian armed forces are very bright,” said Dr. Pillai.
Since then the BrahMos has been inducted in the Indian Army and Navy. Modifications are being carried out on the frontline fighter jets Sukhoi Su-30MKI to integrate BrahMos on the platform. Presently BrahMos can be launched from land, air and sea; and an underwater BrahMos will be ready for test by the end of this financial year.
However, the decade long journey to establish BrahMos as a reliable, precision weapon has not been easy. The project was mooted in 1993 after approval from then Prime Minister Narsimhan Rao. In 1995 Brahmos Aerospace was registered in Delhi. But it was in 1998 that the Joint Venture was formed and funds started flowing in.
CEO BrahMos Dr A Sivthanu Pillai said: “A joint venture for the missile development was new for both the parties (India and Russia). While Russians had the liquid ramjet engine we had the upper hand in the ground systems like fire control systems, launchers. So we decided to pool in our resources and knowledge to achieve BrahMos.”
“To get funds for the project was another challenge. While the Indian government readily provided money, Russians had difficulty in securing money for the project due to regime change in Moscow,” revealed Pillai. The problem was sorted out in 1999 when Russia diverted the loan payment done by India is lieu of the weapons purchased in 1970’s as an investment for the project. Thereafter a JV was established with 50.5 percent Indian stake and 49.5 percent Russian stake.
The project was a well kept secret till the first test flight of BrahMos from Chandipur test range in Orissa on June 12, 2001, the day happens to be Russia day as well. Till then the team of 38 Indian scientists were working from a rented accommodation in Delhi’s Vasant Vihar area to execute the dream of one billion people.
“Not a single news report had appeared on the project before the flight test,” Pillai reminisced, while adding, “In fact I had written to the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and defence minister Jaswant Singh to announce India’s achievement to the world.” Following approval from the Prime Minister the premier military research organization Defence Research and Development Organisation issued a press release on the morning of June 12, 2001 took the world by surprise.
Till date the world is way behind in development of a supersonic cruise missile. The US’ proposed Fast Hawk and Europeans’ ANS is presently on drawing board.
Beaming with pride, Dr. Pillai a distinguished scientist said, “The Indian Army is the only force in the world which has supersonic cruise missile. The Russian Moskit is an anti-ship missile and does not have a land or aerial variant.”
The BrahMos is a two-stage missile with solid propelled booster engine as its first stage which brings it to supersonic speed and then gets separated. The liquid ramjet of the second stage then takes the missile closer to Mach 3 speed (nearly three times the speed of the sound) speed in cruise phase. It flies at low altitudes and has the ability to evade enemy radars and air-defence systems. They are also easier and cheaper to operate
“The reaction time for the missile – from giving command to take off is just four minutes. Thereafter every missile can be fired in 2.5 seconds,” Dr. Pillai informed.
Different from other defence establishments, BrahMos has got a specialized marketing division to sell the world class product to other countries.
Talking about the export plans, Dr. Pillai added: “In the next 10 years we are looking at capturing 20 percent of the global missile market. We are aiming to export 1000 missile systems to friendly countries after meeting requirements of our armed forces.” Each missile costs nearly Rs. 100 million. The Army and Navy have already inducted the missiles and upgradation of Su-30 MKI should be complete by 2012.
Russia has also amended its law which prohibited weapons manufactured outside country from being deployed on its soil. “Earlier Russia refused to purchase BrahMos citing this law. But they have amended it to make room for products manufactured under joint venture. And chances of induction of BrahMos in Russian armed forces are very bright,” said Dr. Pillai.
No comments:
Post a Comment