Indian Army places $2 billion order for BrahMos missiles: Dr Sivathanu Pillai
19 Aug 2008
Moscow: The Indian Army has placed a $2 billion order for supersonic cruise missiles from the Indo-Russian joint venture BrahMos Aerospace according to a report from the Interfax news agency. The agency quoted firm chief executive, Sivathanu Pillai, as saying, "The order by the Indian armed forces comes to $2 billion."
BrahMos Aerospace is a joint Indo-Russian venture established in 1998 to design, develop, produce and market a unique supersonic cruise missile.
Sivathanu Pillai, speaking in Moscow, also said the total order book for the supersonic cruise missile, including supplies to other countries, could eventually reach $10 billion.
A senior Indian defence official in New Delhi was quoted as saying that the deal was part of a long-term agreement between BrahMos Aerospace and the Indian armed forces.
The BrahMos has a range of up to 290 km and can travel at speeds of up to 2.8 times the speed of sound.
An Indian defence spokesman also said that India and Russia signed agreements on Tuesday to upgrade tanks and fighter jets that India has bought from Russia over the years.
