Thiruvananthapuram: BrahMos Aerospace Thiruvananthapuram Ltd (BATL) – a unit of BrahMos Aerospace, Delhi has been awarded the prestigious International Aerospace Certification AS-9100 - a feat it has achieved in the short space of just nine months. The certification allows this high-tech unit to enter the global aerospace market for its products as well as orders for production orders.

Dr A Sivathanu Pillai, chairman and MD, BATL and CC (R&D), DRDO has expressed his satisfaction at the effort put in by the BATL team to obtain this certification. The AS-9100 certification is a must for any unit to undertake aerospace orders from external agencies.

AK Antony, defence minister and Elamaram Kareem, minister for industries and commerce, state of Kerala have congratulated the employees for achieving this prestigious certification within the shortest possible time.

Dr Pillai received the certificate from R Sankaralingam, in-charge, aerospace certification, TUV-NORD, Chennai.

BrahMos Aerospace, an Indo-Russian joint venture, took over KELTEC (Kerala Hitech Industries Ltd) in December 2007. The facility was renamed BrahMos Aerospace Thiruvananthapuram Ltd (BATL).

The company's main customers include the Defence Research and Development Organisation and ISRO.