|
Former Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam, himself
a missile scientist who played a leading role
in the development of this venture, described
the missile as “ a weapon no other country
has” and praised the “spectacular achievements
and successes” of the company and its leadership.
The joint venture, headquartered in New Delhi,
is 50.5: 49.5 venture respectively between India
and Russia.
Inaugurating the ceremony, Dr Kalam said that
BrahMos was “a new experience for India”
and that it has now “become a huge organisation
with excellent networking of Industries with a
perfect blend of Public and Private Industries.”
He listed the various Firsts that it had achieved
since its inception in 1998.
He praised BrahMos Chairman and Managing Director
A Sivathanu Pillai, a distinguished scientist
of India, and said: “The core competencies
of BrahMos are the creative leadership in every
aspect of action whether in the design, development,
production or industrial partnership or the partnership
of India and Russia... Creative leadership is
the only way for a nation to be economically and
militarily strong.”
The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system,
which has charted many milestones since its historic
maiden launch on 12th of June 2001, yet again
made history with its most recent successful test
firing from India’s largest indigenous warship
INS Kolkata on 9th June, 2014.
“We have witnessed 42 flight tests of BRAHMOS,
with highest success rate,” Dr Pillai said
in his welcome address, referring to the recent
successful launch of the missile from the P-15(A)
class destroyer of the Indian Navy.
“Today, we have production orders for worth
Rs. 30,000 crores. Our company has realised maximum
turn over with minimum investment,” Dr. Pillai
noted, further adding that export of BRAHMOS will
open up incredible business opportunities in the
public and private sectors.
Mr Sergey V Karmalito, Senior Counsellor, Embassy
of the Russian Federation in India, remarked,
“BRAHMOS is a shining example of joint achievements.
It has transformed the buyer-seller relationship
to equal partners designing and producing a high
technology weapon.”
A seminar on “Military Industry Complex”
was organised as part the event, with industry
leaders deliberating on the growth of India’s
defence industry and the roadmap ahead.
“There is a large requirement for the Indian
armed forces and the demand is going to be worth
over $150 billion in the next five years, according
to estimates. The Indian manufacturing sector
must capture a large portion of this huge $150
billion market share,” Dr Pillai said, adding
that the Government, R&D centres, the Defence
Industry and the Armed Forces should join hands
to achieve indigenisation.
Speaking on the occasion, Shyam Chetty, Director,
SCIR-NAL, Bangalore, remarked that a cluster of
industries should be identified to compete in
the international defence market. “The Military
Industry Complex promises to trigger in manufacturing,
generate employment and ultimately contribute
in the national development.”
Mr J D Patil, Executive Vice President (Defence
and Aerospace) of Larsen & Toubro said that
there are “multiple users of this world-class
system.”
Other distinguished speakers who took part in
the discussion included Dr Ajit Kalghatgi, Director
(R&D), Bharat Electronics Ltd, Mr S Rangarajan,
CEO, Data Patterns, Col (Retd.) HS Shankar, VSM,
CMD, Alpha Design, Mr S M Vaidya, VP & Business
Head (PCS Division), Godrej & Boyce, RAdm
(Retd.) S Mohapatra, ED (Production), BrahMos
Aerospace and Mr. Alexander Maksichev, Joint Managing
Director, BrahMos Aerospace.
Dr Kalam inaugurated an all-new simulation centre
for the BRAHMOS Air Version. He also launched
a new-look Brahmand.com web portal. The company
also honoured its industrial partners and laboratories.
Dr Kalam presented the BrahMos Excellence award,
Best Innovation award, Best Laboratory award,
Best Institution Support award, Best Industry
award, Young Scientist award, Best Employee award
and Best Student award to the respective winners.
|
