Brahmos cruise missile to get first export client by end of the year

New Delhi: The jointly developed Indo-Russian BrahMos cruise missile may soon find its first client, with the contract for export to a "friendly" country likely to be inked by the end of the year.

"First contract for the delivery of BrahMos cruise missiles to a friendly country is expected to be signed by the end of the year," CEO of the New Delhi-based BrahMos Aerospace, Dr Sivathanu Pillai said here.

BrahMos Aerospace is a joint venture between India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russian NPO Mashinostroyenia. The JV has been authorised by their respective governments to export these unique and deadly missiles to mutually agreed "friendly" countries. It is expected that the list of potential importers would be extended.

"There is a huge market for cruise missiles. BrahMos is unique among cruise missiles due to its 2.8 Mach supersonic speed (all other cruise missiles are sub-sonic at present) and much-longer strike range. It's the ultimate force-multiplier," Dr Pillai said.

On achieving full production, BrahMos Aerospace is expected to export at least 1000 missiles over a decade.

Dr Pillai also said that the two countries are going to increase capacities for production of these cruise missiles. The export version will basically be an anti-ship variant of the 290-km range BrahMos, a version already inducted into the Indian Navy.