• On the occasion, defence minister reiterated that Russia was India’s strategic partner.
• He also supported the nuclear and other military deterrents of India to prevent external threats in India.
• According to him, inauguration of the BrahMos Missile Project was a testimony of defence manufacturing cooperation between India and Russia.

The BrahMos Missile (PJ-10)

BrahMos Missile is a medium-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile. It can be launched from land, aircraft, submarine or ships. It is one of the fastest supersonic cruise missiles worldwide. The missile is a joint venture between the Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya and India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Both the organisation has together formed BrahMos Aerospace. It is based on Russian P-800 Oniks cruise missile. The name BrahMos has been taken from the names of two rivers, River Brahmaputra of India and River Moskva of Russia.

Characteristics of BrahMos

BrahMos is the fastest anti-ship cruise missile of the world, currently in operation. Its land-launched and ship-launched versions are already there in service. In 2012, air-launched variant of BrahMos appeared and entered the service in 2019. Presently, a hypersonic version of the Missile called BrahMos-II, is under development. It has the speed of Mach 7–8.  Missile is likely to be ready for testing by 2024.

Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)

India became a member of MTCR in 2016. With this partnership, India and Russia are planning to develop a new generation of Brahmos missiles with a range of 800 km-plus. It has the ability to hit protected targets with pinpoint accuracy.

Significance of the BrahMos project

BrahMos Project is likely to create 5,500 fresh job opportunities. The ancillary supply chain will create an additional 10,000 employment.