Lucknow: 

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday virtually inaugurated the BrahMos Aerospace Integration and Testing Facility at the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor here. The Rs 300 crore facility is a key part of the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor and represents India's commitment to self-reliant defence manufacturing, the Ministry of Defence said.

"It includes not only missile production but also testing, integration, and a materials complex for aerospace-grade components. A major leap toward #AtmanirbharBharat and a strategic boost to regional industrial growth," the Ministry of Defence said on X. The Uttar Pradesh government had said the facility will manufacture one of the world's fastest supersonic cruise missiles, with a range of 290 to 400 km and a top speed of Mach 2.8.

The UP Defence Industrial Corridor, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018, has six nodes --- Lucknow, Kanpur, Aligarh, Agra, Jhansi, and Chitrakoot -- where major investments are being made to boost defence manufacturing. Uttar Pradesh is the second state after Tamil Nadu to establish a Defence Industrial Corridor, it added.

The missile, a product of BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between India and Russia, can be launched from land, sea, or air and uses a "fire and forget" system. Completed in three-and-a-half years, the BrahMos production unit in Lucknow is spread over 80 hectares of land provided free of cost by the Uttar Pradesh government, the state government had said in the statement.

Rajnath, a former chief of the BJP, described the inauguration on National Technology Day as a landmark moment, which reflects India’s growing innovative energy and aligns with the rapid global transformation in critical, high end and frontier technologies.

Rajnath Singh said it will strengthen India's efforts towards Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in defence and contribute to the socio-economic development of the region by generating significant direct & indirect employment.

He called BrahMos as not just one of the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missiles, but a message of the strength of the Indian Armed Forces, a message of deterrence to adversaries, and a message of the nation’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding its borders. He added that BrahMos is a confluence of top defence technologies of India and Russia.

Quoting the Missile Man of India and former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam who had said 'Unless India stands up to the world, no one will respect us. In this world, fear has no place, only strength respects strength', Rajnath Singh stated that India is one of the most powerful nations today and the centre will help in further strengthening India’s power.

"A total of 180 MoUs have, so far, been signed in UPDIC with a proposed investment of Rs 34,000 crore, and an investment of Rs 4,000 crore has already been made. Major investments have been made in Aircraft manufacturing, UAVs, Drones, Ammunition, Composite & Critical materials, Small Arms, Textile and Parachute etc. The highlight is that the participation of both public sector and the private sectors are being witnessed. In Lucknow itself, titanium and super alloy material plants are being started by PTC Industries Limited. In addition, the foundation of seven additional critical projects is being laid. This would accelerate the pace of India's self-reliance in the defence sector," the Defence Minister said.

Terming the facility as a matter of pride for the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC), Rajnath Singh stated that it has already created around 500 direct and 1,000 indirect jobs, reflecting the state’s growing stature as a defence manufacturing hub. He emphasised that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Government’s vision of setting-up the corridor rests on its goal of developing the state as the world's top defence production and export destination.

Citing a recent report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, which said that global military expenditure has risen to $2,718 billion in 2024, he stated that such a massive market is an opportunity India must seize. "The launch of the BrahMos facility is a firm stride towards making India a significant player in the world’s defence production ecosystem," he added.

Rajnath also appreciated the efforts of the Uttar Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath, DRDO scientists, engineers, and other stakeholders for completing the project within 40 months.

"Given the current circumstances, it is crucial that we continue to achieve our goals in a time-bound and efficient manner," he said. He credited the state government for creating a strong development ecosystem and implementing initiatives such as setting-up of UPDIC, establishment of DRDO’s Defence Technology & Test Centre in Lucknow and hosting DefExpo in 2020.

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