"BrahMos Has Proven India's Credibility as a Defence Partner"

Conceived in the early 1990s and formalised in 1998, the BrahMos missile project represents one of India's most ambitious and commercially viable defence collaborations.

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The joint venture between India's DRDO and Russia's NPOM is not only a technological feat but a strategic asset that is now shaping India's presence in the global defence export market. In a conversation with BW Businessworld's Navneet Singh, SUDHIR MISHRA, DRDO Chair (Emeritus) and former CEO and MD of BrahMos Aerospace, discusses the origins of BrahMos, its precision capabilities, export potential, and the roadmap to BrahMos-2. Excerpts

How did the BrahMos programme begin, and what made it such a unique initiative at the time?

The BrahMos story began in 1993 when A.P.J. Abdul Kalam visited Moscow and saw the potential of a partially developed Ramjet engine, a technology the Soviets had continued to refine after the Americans abandoned it in the 1980s. At that point, India had gained confidence through its Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, and Kalam saw an opportunity for a 50:50 joint venture.

This wasn't just a technical collaboration but a strategic one. India contributed 50.5 per cent of the capital, and Russia contributed 49.5 per cent. DRDO led the effort on the Indian side, and NPOM on the Russian side. A formal agreement was signed in 1998, but the groundwork had begun five years earlier. At a time when both countries were financially constrained, this project signalled long-term vision and geopolitical alignment.

Why is BrahMos considered one of the most precise and potent missiles in the world today?