Article Posted on : - Jun 13, 2023

Dr. A. S. Pillai, Founder CEO of BrahMos, graced the occasion, and his words of wisdom inspired Team BrahMos to take the Defence JV to greater heights.

NEW DELHI: The grand Silver Jubilee Year celebration by India-Russia JV entity BrahMos Aerospace culminated in a high note today on 12th June, 2023 in the presence of the company’s Founder CEO & MD Padma Bhushan Dr. A.S. Pillai whose words of wisdom inspired Team BrahMos to take the Defence JV to greater heights.

Addressing a gathering of BrahMos scientists, engineers and other staff members in the presence of Shri Atul Dinkar Rane, (DG, BrahMos), DRDO and CEO & MD of BrahMos, Dr. Sanjeev K Joshi, Dy CEO, Shri Praveen Pathak, Director, Market Promotion & Export and other esteemed officials, Dr. Pillai said: “With the BRAHMOS programme, we proved to the world that India was the first country to have a supersonic cruise missile system.”

India had thus broken the ‘Fifth Nation Syndrome’, as exhorted by former President and ‘Missile Man’ of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the Founder CEO of BrahMos, who played a pivotal role in the Military-Technology partnership programme between India and Russia, said.

Dwelling upon the many milestones the JV entity has achieved since its formation on 12th February, 1998 followed by the maiden successful launch of supersonic BRAHMOS on 12th June, 2001, Dr. Pillai said that the thought process in establishing a unique organisation like BrahMos was completely different.

“Every challenge was accepted...We never said ‘No’ to any challenge,” he said.

Referring to the current geopolitical volatility, Dr. Pillai, while equating BRAHMOS to ‘Brahmastra’ of 21st century,  said: “In democracy, only a strong Nation can advocate peace. And a powerful weapon like BRAHMOS can give strength to India to advocate peace in the world.”

He appreciated the efforts of BrahMos Aerospace in developing more advanced variants of BRAHMOS, including the BRAHMOS Next-Generation (NG) and hypersonic BRAHMOS.

“We can work on hypersonics and can definitely prove (to the world) that we are capable here too,” Dr. Pillai said emphatically.

BrahMos Chief Shri Atul D Rane in his remarks said that it takes a lot of courage and fortitude and “Dr. Pillai had the vision to lead the JV programme from the front...he’s one of the best leaders one could have.”

“If BrahMos today stands on any pillar, then Dr. Pillai is that pillar,” Shri Rane said.

On this grand occasion, Dr. Pillai inaugurated the BrahMos auditorium which has been dedicated to him and named ‘Dr. A Sivathanu Pillai’ auditorium. The ‘Founders’ Gallery’ section of BrahMos museum also showcases the many awards and accolades he has received throughout his long, illustrious career as an iconic scientist of India.

A mesmerizing dance performance by artists from the ‘Shrinkhala’ group organised as part of the celebrations enthralled the audience.

BrahMos work centres at Hyderabad, Nagpur and Pilani also celebrated BrahMos ‘Silver Jubilee’ event in a grand way. CEO & MD Shri Atul D Rane addressed the staff in these work centres in virtual mode.

Previously, BrahMos organised ‘BRAHMOS Users Meet 2023’ on 31st May, and ‘Industry Meet 2023’ on 02nd June, to commemorate ‘25 Supersonic Years of Success’ of the JV programme involving DRDO of India and NPOM of Russia.