New BrahMos unit in Lucknow to produce 100 missiles annually: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has officially inaugurated the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile production unit within the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor in Lucknow. This significant development, occurring amidst heightened military tensions with Pakistan, marks a substantial enhancement of India's defence manufacturing capabilities. The newly established facility, constructed at a cost of ₹300 crore, is projected to produce between 80 to 100 BrahMos missiles each year. These missiles, developed through a joint venture between India and Russia, boast a range of 290 to 400 kilometers and a top speed of Mach 2.8, capable of being launched from land, sea, and air.  

In addition to the standard BrahMos missiles, the Lucknow facility will also focus on manufacturing the next-generation BrahMos missiles. These advanced missiles, with deliveries expected within a year, will enable fighter jets like the Sukhoi to carry up to three missiles, a significant increase from the current capacity of one. The next-generation BrahMos will have a strike range exceeding 300 kilometers and weigh 1,290 kilograms, substantially lighter than the current model’s 2,900 kilograms. The production unit is a key component of the Defence Industrial Corridor initiative, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018.  

Alongside the production unit, the BrahMos Aerospace Integration and Testing Facility was also inaugurated, which is essential for the assembly and testing of the missiles. Furthermore, the Titanium and Super Alloys Materials Plant (Strategic Materials Technology Complex) was launched to produce essential materials for aerospace and defence manufacturing. The foundation stone for the Defence Testing Infrastructure System (DTIS) was also laid, which will be used for testing and certifying defence products.  

The BrahMos production unit, built on 80 hectares of land provided by the Uttar Pradesh government, was completed within three and a half years. The UP Defence Industrial Corridor, with nodes in Lucknow, Kanpur, Aligarh, Agra, Jhansi, and Chitrakoot, aims to attract substantial defence investments. Uttar Pradesh is now the second state in India, after Tamil Nadu, to establish such a defence industrial corridor.