BrahMos in IAF soon: Sivathanu Pillai

To be upgraded to a hypersonic cruise missile with a speed of Mach 7 by 2017

The programme for induction of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile with a speed of Mach 3 into the Indian Air Force will be ready by the end of 2014, A. Sivathanu Pillai, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited, said here on Monday.

Speaking at the inauguration of a national conference on “Multifunctional Nano materials and Nano composites” at Bharathiar University, Mr. Pillai pointed out that BrahMos would be upgraded to a hypersonic cruise missile with a speed of Mach 7 by 2017.

“While Europe, the U.S., and China are in the process of developing such missiles, efforts are under way in India to make Mach 8 possible. BrahMos Aerospace that was established at an outlay of 3 million U.S. dollars, has already crossed 5 million U.S. dollars in terms of business,” Mr. Pillai said.

Pointing out that the Indian Army should be proud to be the only Army to have in its possession such a powerful cruise missile, he added that BrahMos was the first of its kind capable of destroying targets with maximum accuracy and could be launched from multiple platforms such as ships, mountains, plains and submarines.

Mr. Pillai was felicitated on the occasion on being conferred with Padma Bhushan recently.

G. James Pitchai, Vice-Chancellor of Bharathiar University, and Palani G. Periasamy, managing director of PGP Group of Companies, offered felicitations.

The Hindu