Article Posted on : - Jun 10, 2010

NEW DELHI (BNS): India and Germany can establish their supremacy by working together in the fields of aeronautical engineering and space sciences, BrahMos Aerospace Chief Dr. A. Sivathanu Pillai has said.

Addressing a seminar during the ILA Berlin Air Show 2010 in Germany on Wednesday, Dr. Pillai said, “The time has come for joint ventures between India and Germany in the fields of aeronautical engineering, space exploration mission and developing hypersonic reusable vehicles for low-cost access to space.”

The other possible areas of cooperation between the two countries could be development of aero engines, futuristic battle tanks, autonomous vehicles and robotic systems, he said.

Dr. Pillai cited the success story of BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile project between India and Russia which yielded maximum business with minimum investment at a short span of time.

“A similar model can be followed for cooperation between the two countries for major space programmes which will put both India and Germany ahead of other nations,” he said.

India, with its growing economic clout, would be among a few countries in the world with ambitious space programmes and Europe could become a part of it.

Both India and Germany have core competencies in the areas of aeronautics and space science and it is time they work together and overtake other leaders in the field, Dr. Pillai added.

India’s futuristic space ventures include the Chandrayaan-2 mission to Moon, a human space flight mission and a mission to Mars among others. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) also aims to develop the hypersonic reusable launch vehicle which is under planning stage at present.