India, having secured a deal with the Philippines in the preceding year, is currently engaged in discussions with more than a dozen nations regarding BrahMos missile export.
Furthermore, the BrahMos Aerospace organization, under the guidance of its Director General, Atul Dinkar Rane, is concurrently focusing on the development of hypersonic, precision-guided weaponry, as well as exploring various iterations of their existing supersonic cruise missiles. These revelations were disclosed by Rane during a recent industry gathering.
Rane highlighted that ever since the initial flight trial back in 2001, countries from across the globe have consistently expressed their interest in procuring BrahMos missiles. However, the organization prioritized fulfilling the requirements of its own armed forces initially, leading to a modest surplus capacity.
Rane remarked, “Our first order was secured in 2022, marking the beginning of a new chapter. Presently, we find ourselves in discussions with over a dozen countries. The specifics, including which countries and the timing of these potential agreements, will only be revealed in due course.”
Focusing on the pursuit of hypersonic speed, Rane shared insights into ongoing initiatives, mentioning the development of “technology bricks” that could enable BrahMos missiles to achieve such remarkable velocity. However, he acknowledged the challenge of creating a weapon system that is both cost-effective and conducive to mass production and deployment.
“We are currently in the process of building these technology bricks. Once the foundation is laid, we can move toward production. Design feasibility is a priority, and our partners are diligently working on it. As soon as the necessary technological groundwork is established, we can begin the assembly process,” Rane explained in relation to the hypersonic missile project. Nevertheless, he refrained from providing a specific timeline for its completion. India is among four countries actively engaged in the development of hypersonic missiles.
Speaking at the BrahMos Industry Meet in 2023, DG Rane proudly announced that the joint venture between India and Russia has now accumulated an order book worth $6 billion. This impressive figure signifies a significant leap from the modest initial capital infusion of $250 million when the aerospace company was established in 1998.
Rane attributed this remarkable progress to meticulous planning and far-sightedness, asserting that the BrahMos model serves as a harbinger for the future of Indian defense manufacturing, sustainability, and the initial strides toward self-reliance, exemplified by the creation of the BrahMos Missile Industrial Complex.
Expanding on this theme, he elucidated that the missile industrial consortium, operating under the BrahMos umbrella, has successfully united over 200 Indian defense firms from both the public and private sectors. Together, they collaborate in designing, developing, and delivering critical components and sub-systems for one of the world’s fastest and most accurate precision-guided weapons.
These efforts contribute to bolstering India’s defense exports, which have now surged to an unprecedented figure of nearly ₹16,000 crores in the fiscal year 2022-23. This amount is nearly 23 times greater than the ₹686 crores achieved in 2013-14, underlining the nation’s robust growth in this sector.
India’s endeavors in the realm of defense technology and international collaboration continue to thrive, with the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles emerging as a symbol of the nation’s prowess and ambition in the global defense landscape.