The Hindu Business Line : BrahMos missile export market under study

THE export market for the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile is being studied as the anti-ship version of the missile is fully ready and production has started, Dr A. Sivathanu Pillai, CEO and Managing Director of BrahMos Aerospace, said.

Dr Pillai told Business Line at the special BrahMos pavilion at the ongoing IDEX 2005 here, that eight tests over sea targets and one test over the land target had been successfully conducted for the missile.

"The anti-ship version is fully ready and production has started. The induction process of the missile in the Indian Navy is underway," he said.

Dr Pillai, who was also here at the previous IDEX in 2003, said that the joint venture company is now ready to receive enquiries from overseas.

"When we were here earlier, we were in the process of development. Now we are in the production stage and can meet orders in due course. A number of countries have shown interest in the missile. It is up to the authorities to narrow it down to specific buyers in accordance with our policies," he said.

Twenty industries in India and 10 in Russia are involved in the production of the missile which is being assembled at a special facility in Hyderabad, he said.

The joint venture is also in the process of developing an air launch version of the missile, he said.

A special stand has been put up by the BrahMos, the India-Russian joint venture, at the ongoing IDEX 2005,where a video display highlights the features of the world-class missile, with supersonic speed and a range of 290 km.

The missile is the outcome of an inter-Government agreement signed between India and Russia in February 1998. The agreement involves the joint design, development and marketing of the supersonic missile, with funding by both the governments.

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BrahMos missile export market under study