Brahmos, Kalam & Lessons from History

We must bolster our defence capability in strategic systems through JVs with reputed global manufacturers and design and development collaborations with reputed design houses, suggests Satya Narayan Misra

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THE recently concluded war with Pakistan witnessed the rare spectacle of India using two of its indigenous systems, the AKASH surface-to-air missiles and the BRAHMOS cruise missiles.

On May 7th, AKASH reportedly shot down a PAK JI7 Thunder, jointly developed by China and integrated by Pakistan. On May 10th, the IAF targeted several strategic locations deep inside Pakistan in retaliation for an attempted airspace violation by using Brahmos missiles alongside SCALP and HAMMER munitions. While inaugurating the new testing and integration facility at Lucknow, the UP CM remarked, "You must have seen a glimpse of the Brahmos missile during Operation Sindoor." Both these lethal assets bear the indelible imprint of Kalam.

Brahmos has a long and storied history, and Dr. Kalam can justifiably be credited with seeding and nurturing this joint venture program with NPO Russia in 1995. In tandem with the S-400 missiles, imported from Russia, which thwarted Pakistan's swarm drone and missile attacks, Brahmos and AKASH have become the signature elements of India's strategic superiority in military systems over adversaries like Pakistan. The story of India's self-reliance in missile systems was envisioned by Dr. Arunachalam as SA to RM and realized in action by Dr. Kalam when the IGMDP program was launched in 1983 to design and develop Surface-to-Surface Missiles (both shortand long-range), Surface-to-Air Missiles, and Anti-Tank Missiles. While the short-range Prithvi missiles with a 150 km range were inducted into service in 1994, the SAM missiles like AKASH encountered several technical challenges.