Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi   

Induction of air version of BrahMos missile by 2012: Sivathanu Pillai

— Photo: M. Moorthy

UNVEILING THE FUTURE: A. Sivathanu Pillai, Chief Controller (Research and Development), DRDO, New Delhi, interacting with students at the Seethalakshmi Ramaswami College in Tiruchi on Monday.

TIRUCHI: Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, BrahMos Aerospace, New Delhi, A. Sivathanu Pillai, on Monday said that the work related to the air version of the Supersonic BrahMos Cruise Missile was in an advanced stage.

The missile had been realised and necessary changes incorporated in it, Dr. Pillai, who is also Chief Controller (Research & Development) Defence Research and Development Organisation, told reporters in an informal chat here.

Modifications were required on the Sukhoi 30 MKI multi-role combat aircraft to carry out flight-tests for the air version of the missile.

The Sukhoi design bureau in Russia would modify the fighter aircraft.

He expressed the hope that by 2011 the aircraft would be available with the provision to conduct flight-tests of the air version of BrahMos. “Our target is to induct the missile into the Air Force in 2012.”

Dr. Pillai said the weight of the air version had been reduced by 500 kg compared to the land version.

In two years, BrahMos missiles would also be produced from the Thiruvananthapuram complex. “The plan is to establish a production complex for BrahMos missile integration on a seven acres provided by the Indian Air Force adjacent to the present BrahMos complex in Thiruvananthapuram.”

He said that production infrastructure was being upgraded to meet the requirements. Multiple industries had become partners in the production of components and systems for the BrahMos missile. He said that a design team involving Russians were working on a hypersonic version of the BrahMos missile called BrahMos II.

Earlier, making a presentation on ‘Recent advances in science in the national development,’ at the Seethalakshmi Ramaswami College here, he said the country had become strong in space technology with the capability to launch satellites of other nations.

Vision 2020 was a roadmap for the country to reach developed status on all fronts.

Tracing the evolution of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, Dr. Pillai said that the country had developed minimum deterrence to safeguard itself.

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Induction of air version of BrahMos missile by 2012: Sivathanu Pillai

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