Page 593 - SSB Interview: The Complete Guide, Second Edition

shows that women can handle situations in tough terrain and are waiting for
their role in combat in these regions.

27. BRAHMOS MISSILES

BrahMos missiles are medium-range supersonic cruise missiles developed by

India in a joint venture with Russia. BrahMos is considered as the world’s
only supersonic cruise missile system. These missiles are an important part of
our defence system and have a huge demand in the rest of the world.

History of BrahMos

It was in 1983 when a programme to address the country’s defence

requirements was launched. It was named the “Integrated Guided Missile
Development Programme (IGMDP)”. This project is mainly focused on
achieving self-sufficiency in the manufacture and marketing of intermediate

and short-range missiles indigenously. After the Gulf War in the 1990s, the
country felt that it needed an indigenous cruise missile system. To fulfil this
need, India along with long-term partner Russia, inked an inter-governmental

agreement. The agreement was signed on 12 February 1998 by former
President of India and missile scientist Dr APJ Abdul Kalam (the Missile
Man of India) and Russia’s first deputy defence minister Dr Mikhailov. This

opened the way for a new venture: BrahMos Aerospace, which is a
collaboration between India’s Defence Research Development Organisation
(DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOM). India holds 50.5% of

the share costing $126.25 million while Russia holds 49.5% of the share
costing $123.75 million. The major aim of this partnership is to design, build

and market the unique supersonic ramjet cruise missile — the BrahMos.
BrahMos is a name which is a combination of two mighty rivers in India and
Russia. “Brah” is the abbreviation of river “Brahmaputra” in India and “Mos”
is the abbreviation of river “Moskva” in Russia. Presently, 65% of the

production is done in India and the remaining 35% is done in Russia which
then imports it to India.