Defense Technology International - December 2007 - (Page 17)

NEW HORIZONS BrahMos missile expands beyond shipboard role MAXIM PYADUSHKIN•MOSCOW evelopment of the BrahMos supersonic anti-ship missile has been hailed as an example of a successful cooperative technology program between Russia and India. The venture, launched in 1998, has racked up orders from India’s navy and army for ship- and land-based systems, with more sales likely. Engineers are working on air- and submarine-launched versions, and India is aggressively promoting the missile for export. Despite the impressive gains in development of the weapon over the past decade, strains reportedly exist in relations between the Indian and Russian companies working on the program. India’s e orts to sell the missile globally are said to concern some Russian manufacturers of anti-ship missiles, who fear a loss of business. There are even claims that a few companies want the BrahMos venture placed under the direction of the Russian military. The CEO and managing director of BrahMos Aerospace, A. Sivathanu Pillai, is quick to reject such speculation. He does say, however, that “it’s up to us to decide how we move. But we have to proceed cautiously. Our ﬁrst priority is India’s needs. We will ﬁ rst address domestic requirements that have increased and then look at export.” Pillai declines to comment on export orders or customers. Neither side thought very much about the business ramiﬁcations of a cooperative technology venture, says Jasjit Singh, managing director of the Center for Air Power Studies, a research organization in New Delhi. “Things should have been clear in the agreement we signed with Russia,” says Singh, a retired air commodore in the Indian air force. “We should have the right to sell in an equal partnership.” Even A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, India’s former president, believes the country needs to aggressively market the missile. “No developer can afford to www.aviationweek.com/dti D An army version of the supersonic BrahMos missile is test ﬁred successfully. BRAHMOS AEROSPACE lose the competitive edge he has generated,” Kalam says. Some observers in India believe that as a result of business tensions over marketing BrahMos, a chill has arisen between the two countries that could affect India’s defense procurement plans. These concerns center on Russia’s re- ported delays delivering the refurbished aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, which India purchased for about $1.6 billion, and on last-minute licensing snags for India’s 140 Sukhoi Su-30MKI ﬁghter jets. However the issues turn out, it’s clear that BrahMos Aerospace in New Delhi has a potent missile. 17 DECEMBER 2007 DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL http://www.aviationweek.com/dti

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Defense Technology International - December 2007 Contents Around the World Science Watch Tech Watch BrahMos: Ramjet Ship Killer r-e-s-p-e-c-t Deja Vu Trump Card Dubai Demos Agile Helos Joint Force Online Charge UGVs Creep, Crawl to Victory Sweet Ride Fast, Lethal Ship Defense Networking Stealth: Why Raptors Can't Talk The Net Cutting Edge First Person In Review Insight

Defense Technology International - December 2007

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