On June 12, 2024, BrahMos Aerospace marked a significant milestone: the 26th anniversary of the Indo-Russian joint venture revolutionising supersonic missile technology. Coinciding with both the Philippines Independence Day and Russia National Day, this year’s BrahMos Day commemorates past achievements and sets the stage for future advancements.
BrahMos Aerospace’s Chief Executive Officer, Atul Dinkar Rane, and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Dr Sanjeev Kumar Joshi, shared insights into their strategic initiatives and vision for the future exclusively with Financial Express Online.
Strategic Leadership and Vision
Mr Rane and Dr Joshi have been at the helm of BrahMos Aerospace since December 2021. Reflecting on their tenure, Mr Rane emphasised their focus on three pivotal areas: meeting the requirements of the Armed Forces, harnessing export potential, and driving indigenisation. Their efforts have borne fruit, resulting in major contracts and significant advancements in indigenous production. “In these two and a half years, we’ve received substantial orders, including India’s largest export deal with the Philippines worth around $375 million and a massive Rs 20,000 crore order from the Indian Navy for advanced BrahMos systems,” said Mr Rane. These achievements underscore the strategic importance of BrahMos in the national and international defence sector.
A Historical Perspective
The journey of BrahMos began in 1998 with an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) between India and Russia to develop the world’s best supersonic cruise missile. Named after the Brahmaputra and Moscow rivers, BrahMos represents a formidable collaboration between Indian and Russian scientists and technocrats. The first successful test firing of the BrahMos missile took place in June 2001, setting a precedent for numerous milestones to follow. Under the visionary leadership of Dr A Sivathanu Pilla, the first CEO, BrahMos was established as a supersonic cruise missile system meant to be capable of being launched from land, sea, underwater, and air platforms.
Strengthening Defence and Expanding Horizons
The Indian Armed Forces’ confidence in BrahMos is unwavering. “The Indian Navy has repeatedly affirmed that BrahMos remains their primary strike weapon,” Mr. Rane noted. The Indian Air Force (IAF) and Army have also placed significant orders, underscoring BrahMos’s reliability and strategic value. Celebrating its Silver Jubilee last year, the Service Chiefs and the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) lauded BrahMos as a formidable weapon system, highlighting its unmatched precision and after-sales support.
The global interest in BrahMos is growing, with countries across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Latin America expressing interest in acquiring this cutting-edge missile system. The Philippines, the first international customer, has been particularly impressed with BrahMos’s performance and training programs.
Addressing Challenges and Future Prospects
Addressing concerns about the high cost of BrahMos, Dr Joshi highlighted the missile’s value proposition. “BrahMos offers unmatched quality, reliability, and precision, with low maintenance costs and a long shelf-life,” he explained. The missile’s supersonic speed, reaching targets in a fraction of the time compared to other cruise missiles, significantly enhances its effectiveness in combat situations.
Looking ahead, BrahMos Aerospace is poised to expand its footprint in the global defence market. Conversations with potential customers, including Indonesia, are progressing well. The company’s strategy includes continuous capability enhancement and robust supply chain management to meet the growing demand.
Supporting the Defence Ecosystem
BrahMos’s success is deeply intertwined with the Indian defence ecosystem. The company’s emphasis on indigenisation aligns with the government’s “Make-in-India” initiative, fostering a robust industrial base. “Our industry partners are crucial to our success. We encourage them to invest in capacity building to meet the increasing demand,” said Dr Joshi.
BrahMos Aerospace also benefits from supportive government policies such as the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 and the Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy (DPEPP). These policies have created a favourable environment for Indian defence industries to thrive and compete globally.
A Vision for the Future
As BrahMos Aerospace celebrates 26 years of innovation and excellence, its leadership remains committed to providing unparalleled precision strike systems to the Indian Armed Forces and expanding its global presence. “BrahMos is a testament to the power of joint ventures and collaborative efforts,” Mr Rane concluded.
Read the full interview here for an in-depth conversation with Mr. Rane and Dr. Joshi.