Question : BRAHMOS MISSILE

(a) whether the Government has decided to induct the Brahmos missile into the Indian Air Force;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the salient features of the missile; and

(d) the expenditure likely to be incurred thereon?

MINISTER OF DEFENCE(SHRI A.K. ANTONY)

(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. Based on the approval of the Government to induct BrahMos in the Indian Air Force, a contract has recently been signed for the production and induction of one squadron of land attack version of the BrahMos in mobile complex. The Government has also approved development of Air launched version of the BrahMos missile to be fitted with Sukhoi SU-30 MK-1 to be ready in 2012.

(c) BrahMos supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia is a world leader in the cruise missile family. The missile has a range of 290 km weighing 3 tonnes, and flying at a maximum speed of 2.8 times the speed of sound. It is configured for universality for multiple platforms like ship, submarine, road mobile complex. For the air launched version the missile has been modified with a reduced weight of 2.5 tonnes. The missile has been proved in successive successful flight trials from various platforms and proved to be highly reliable, accurate and lethal. The missile system has already been inducted in the Indian Navy and Indian Army.

(d) This Joint Venture was established in 1998 with a share capital of US $ 250 million through an Inter Governmental Agreement between India and Russia, sharing the technologies for the development of this advanced weapon system for Ship and Land applications. The share capital was increased by an additional US $ 50 million in 2005 for the development of the air-version.