Hypersonic version of BrahMos cruise missile next on the cards: Sivathanu Pillai
06 Dec 2007
Thiruvanathapuram: With the jointly developed, and produced, Indo-Russian supersonic BrahMos cruise missiles already deemed a success, Indian scientists are now planning to develop a hypersonic BrahMos-2 version, according to BrahMos Aerospace chief executive officer and chief controller Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), A Sivathanu Pillai said on Thursday.
Delivering the 'Prof Satish Dhawan Memorial Lecture,' organised in connection with the seminar on National Aerospace Manufacturing here, Pillai said, that production of the first version of the BrahMos cruise missiles had already begun and the objective now was to produce a large batch of these missiles for the Indian Army and Navy.
''BrahMos is one of the best missiles in the world and we have exclusive brand for the product,'' he added. MoUs had been signed with 20 companies and arrangements also made with 150 industries for the purchase of various components for the production of the BrahMos missiles, he said.
Pillai also said that developing smart unmanned combat supersonic stealth aircraft, reusable missiles and a hypersonic Brahmos were some of the future programmes for the country's scientists.
The Brahmos missile, with maximum range of 290 km, can be launched from submarines, naval ships, aircraft and land. The BrahMos Aeropsace corporation is a joint venture of DRDO and a Russian defence organisation.
Speed, precision and power are the key concepts of modern war and the aim is to tune the country`s resources towards serving these concepts, Pillai said. `After light combat aircraft, the plan is to go for medium combat aircraft and design is progressing,` he said.
Pillai also said that the industry would have a vital role to play in the country's `Moon Mission, ` by developing technology to launch large payloads and more satellites. The need of the hour is close association of designers, users and manufacturers with focus on reducing production cost, he said.
Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology director, BN Suresh, inaugurated the seminar.