Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: The Centre’s Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Wednesday cleared a massive Rs 20,000 crore deal for providing 200 BrahMos missiles to the Indian Navy.
The contract for this deal is likely to be signed next month between BrahMos Aerospace and the Ministry of Defence, the media reported on Thursday.
The mega-deal is aimed at boosting the Indian Navy’s arsenal and enhancing its capabilities.
The BrahMos missiles are used for anti-ship and attack operations and are among the most successful missile programs in the world.
Its manufacturer, the BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited, was formed as a joint venture between India’s Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya in 1998.
In its early days, the company’s ownership was divided equally between India and Russia. Over the years, however, India gradually increased its stake in the firm headquartered in New Delhi.
The JV produces supersonic cruise missiles that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms. The Indian Army has integrated multiple BrahMos regiments into its arsenal since 2007.
The BrahMos missile will also be exported to the Philippines in March 2024, DRDO Chairman Dr Samir V Kamat was quoted as saying.
Valued at USD 375 million, this will be DRDO’s largest-ever defense contract with a foreign nation.
With the Philippines becoming its first international customer, BrahMos Aerospace is targeting a USD 5 billion export goal by 2025, Atul Rane, the BrahMos Aerospace chief, said.
With significant deals and projects being approved, the Indian defense sector is witnessing a shift towards indigenization and self-reliance.
The recent approval of defense acquisition projects worth Rs 84,560 crore, including mid-air refuellers and maritime reconnaissance aircraft, demonstrates the government’s commitment to strengthening the capabilities of the armed forces while promoting domestic manufacturing, the reports said.
The strategic decision to augment the Indian Navy’s firepower with BrahMos missiles and the push for self-reliance in defense manufacturing reflect India’s wider defense strategy.