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BrahMos Aerospace absent at Berlin Air Show

Berlin: BrahMos Aerospace, responsible for manufacturing the supersonic cruise missile considered the pride of India’s defence might, was surprisingly missing at the Berlin Air Show, where the country had showcased its military prowess.

Though the Indian pavilion here on the outskirts of the city had displayed its advancement in defence and aerospace technologies, it was intriguing to find that BrahMos missile, which India is interested in marketing to other countries, was nowhere in the huge Indian pavilion.

Even the foreign delegates, who visited the Indian pavilion, asked the organisers about the absence of BrahMos missile to which there was a standard reply that they did not get the time to set up their stall.

BrahMos attained 100 per cent success rate in all flight trials proving the adequacy of the missile system to a maximum range of 290 km with high accuracy and lethality establishing the reliability of the system in all weather conditions.

“Indian navy and army have started the induction of the weapon system. The system will also be exported to a few friendly countries,” read the introduction about the missile in the brochures of India that were circulated at the Air Show.

India being a partner country in this year’s Berlin show, which has happened for the first time in the 99-year history of the event, had mentioned inclusion of BrahMos in their presentation and brochures.

Inside the huge pavilion, where even the Russians had also displayed their military might, an Indian Air Force band — Air Warriors — was seen performing in a large portion which, according to the sources, was to be used by BrahMos that backed off at the last moment. A dummy of the missile, was, however, placed there.

No justified reason was given by the BrahMos team about their non-participation in the mega event.

None of the Defence Ministry officials present at the airshow was willing to say anything on record. — PTI

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