Times of India(29-06-2006)
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/

India set to export BrahMos missiles

PM Visits Facility, Says Country Must Look Out

New Delhi: India will soon sign deals to export the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, which has a 290-km strike range with a Mach 2.8 speed at present, to “friendly’’ countries.
  
The clearest signal came on Wednesday when PM Manmohan Singh visited the Brah-Mos Aerospace Complex in Delhi Cantonment to learn more about the deadly air-breathing missile, developed jointly with Russia.
  
With the forces, led by Navy, already inducting BrahMos, the PM told top defence scientists, including Defence Research and Development Organisation chief M Natarajan and BrahMos chief A Sivathanu Pillai, that they must now gear themselves up to export the missile.
  
Highlighting the “considerable’’ export potential of BrahMos in the global arms market, he said the scientists must ensure that the mass production of the missile met world-class quality standards.
  
As reported earlier by TOI, India wants to break into the global cruise missile market, which is currently dominated by western countries, since it will be worth an estimated $10 billion in the coming decade.
  
Defence scientists say BrahMos — capable of being launched from warships, submarines, fighter jets and land-based vehicles — is unique since all other current anti-ship missiles either fly at subsonic speeds or have a much shorter range. India has already held some negotiations with Chile, South Africa and Malaysia for exporting the missile.
  
The Navy and Army have placed orders worth Rs 3,500 crore for the BrahMos — developed jointly by the DRDO and Russian NPO Mashinostroyenia since 1998 and whose production facilities are in Hyderabad.
  
During his hour-long visit, the PM was briefed about the capabilities of BrahMos, which has been successfully tested a dozen times since the first one in June 2001.

He was shown the missile’s Army variant in full operational role, with mobile autonomous launchers on 12x12 Tatra vehicles and mobile command posts.
  
“The PM appreciated the high level of operational capabilities of the system in targeting and precision delivery, as also the versatility of BrahMos missile with multi-role, multi-platform and multi-mission capabilities,’’ said an official.