Article Posted on : - Mar 22, 2012

BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile system. A file photo.

NEW DELHI (PTI): Indigenously developed BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile system having a strike range of 290 kms, has become fully operational with two regiments of the Indian Army, government told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

In a written reply, Defence Minister A K Antony said, "The flight trial was carried out on March 4, 2012 by the Second Regiment of the BRAHMOS Army Unit for operationalisation of the regiment in desert warfare, after training of the personnel.

"With this test firing, the BRAHMOS Missile System is fully operational with two regiments of the Army," he said.

He was asked whether the BRAHMOS missile was test fired and its details thereof.

Informing the House on the test firing conducted by Army, the Defence Minister said, "BRAHMOS Missile System with launchers, mobile command post with its control and communication systems had been fully deployed by the Army in operational mode and the missile was fired".

Replying to a question on indigenous production of defence equipment, Antony said the defence public sector units are taking various initiatives to encourage indigenous participation in defence production and to widen the defence industrial base.

"These include development of indigenous vendors, registration of new vendors, policy initiative for greater private sector participation and outsourcing in their production programme," he said.

In reply to a question on development of Kaveri engine for LCA, Antony said the project was taken up by Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) in 1989 with a sanctioned cost of Rs 382.81 crore, which was revised to Rs 2839.00 Crore in December 2009.

On benefits reaped by the DRDO from the project, he said, "Tacit knowledge acquired by DRDO scientists during this project will be applied for further aerospace technology.

Kaveri spin-off engine can be used as propulsion system for Indian Unmanned Strike Air Vehicle (USAV)."

He also tabled the revised time schedule for other projects undertaken by the DRDO.