With L&T’s Quad launcher, BrahMos missile goes 75% indigenous
07 May 2018
India’s BrahMos, billed as the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile, will now be equipped with the Quad launcher (Quadruple Canisterised Inclined Launcher) designed and developed by L&T Defence.
With this, the BrahMos, developed in collaboration with Russia, will achieve 75-per cent localisation in the next six months from the current 65 per cent domestic components that go into its production.
"As of today 65 per cent of the value (in BrahMos) is created in India. We started with a very low 10-12 per cent indigenisation and today we have reached 65 per cent. In another six months, we would be close to 75 per cent," BrahMos Aerospace managing director and chief executive Sudhir Mishra said at the handing over ceremony of the prototype Quad launcher manufactured by the defence arm of Larsen & Toubro in Pune on Saturday.
"Last March, we flight tested the indigenously made seeker, and booster also would be shortly tested in about two months. We would be reaching to a localisation of about 85 per cent in this," he said.
The Quad Launcher has been designed for launching the Brahmos missiles in an inclined configuration from Indian Navy ships.
Jayant D Patil, whole-time director (defence) and member of the L&T board handed over the newly developed Naval Weapon system- Quad Launcher, on Saturday to Sudhir Mishra at an event held at L&T Defence’s Strategic Systems Complex near Pune.
L&T Defence is one of the leading industry partners of BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd (BAPL).
The QUAD launcher provides superior firepower as compared to the twin canister, deck mounted launchers and has a capability to support and launch four missiles in a single or salvo mode. The new Quad launcher is suitable for warships which have space constraints to accommodate a Vertical Launch Module.
The production units of the QCIL will be ready for deployment on Indian Naval Ships in next 18 months.
Speaking on the occasion, Jayant Patil said, “We have been associated with the development of BRAHMOS missile programme since 2000, when as part of the composite team led by DRDO, we engaged with the Russian Federation and embarked on this vast project.”
BrahMos Aerospace is a joint venture between Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India and NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOM) of Russia. The company was established in India through an inter-government agreement signed in 1998 between The Republic of India and The Russian Federation.
The company is responsible for designing, developing, producing and marketing the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile with active participation of a consortium of Indian and Russian industries.