Jairam Ramesh highlights governance continuity in BrahMos missile development

IANS May 12, 2025 279 views

Jairam Ramesh has provided a comprehensive narrative of the BrahMos missile's intricate development journey across different Indian governments. The missile represents a remarkable testament to sustained national technological effort and strategic collaboration between India and Russia. By highlighting contributions from leaders like A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, I.K. Gujral, and Manmohan Singh, Ramesh underscores the importance of governance continuity in complex defense projects. His detailed account challenges attempts to minimize previous governments' strategic achievements in technological innovation.

"BrahMos is a shining symbol of Indo-Russian collaboration" - Jairam Ramesh
New Delhi, May 12: Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh on Monday underlined the importance of continuity in governance for the successful development of the BrahMos missile system, calling it a prime example of sustained national effort across multiple governments.

Key Points

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India-Russia missile collaboration traced from 1983 to present

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Multiple governments contributed to BrahMos development

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Technological achievement spanning decades of strategic planning

In a post on X, Ramesh drew attention to the recent prominence of BrahMos, a long-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile, which was likely used extensively during Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the Pahalgam massacre.

“BrahMos is very much in the news these days. It is named after the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers and stands as a shining symbol of Indo-Russian collaboration,” Ramesh wrote.

“It is also yet another remarkable proof of continuity in governance -- something that simply cannot be denied or erased, no matter how frequently today's ruling establishment in New Delhi tries to do so.”

Tracing the missile’s development over decades, Ramesh outlined key milestones achieved under successive Indian governments.

“India’s Integrated Missile Development Programme began in 1983 and witnessed many successes. In the mid-1990s, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and his colleague Sivathanu Pillai identified the need for collaboration with Russia to develop supersonic cruise missile technology,” he said.

An inter-governmental agreement to co-develop the missile was signed on February 12, 1998, when I.K. Gujral was the Prime Minister. “Incidentally, Gujral had served as India’s Ambassador to the USSR between 1976 and 1980,” Ramesh noted.

He further pointed out that the first formal contract was signed on July 9, 1999, during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure as Prime Minister, and the missile’s first successful launch occurred on June 12, 2001.

“The BrahMos headquarters complex in New Delhi, encompassing design, simulation, and aerospace research facilities, was inaugurated by Russian President Vladimir Putin on December 4, 2004,” Ramesh added.

Ramesh also detailed the progressive induction of BrahMos into the Indian armed forces -- into the Navy in 2005, the Army in 2007, and the air-launched variant in 2012, all during Manmohan Singh’s tenure as Prime Minister.

“It was under Singh’s leadership that the historic Indo-US nuclear agreement was signed in 2005, paving the way for India’s eventual entry into the Missile Technology Control Regime in 2016,” Ramesh said.

He credited Singh’s government with establishing key facilities such as the BrahMos Integration Complex in Hyderabad and BrahMos Aerospace Thiruvananthapuram Limited.

Ramesh’s comments came a day after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually inaugurated a new BrahMos Integration and Testing Facility in Lucknow.

At the event, Singh lauded the missile 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.”

Reader Comments

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Amit K.
Good to see recognition that defense projects require long-term commitment beyond party lines. BrahMos is truly a national achievement we can all be proud of. Though I wish politicians wouldn't use it for scoring points - let the scientists take the credit they deserve!
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Priya M.
As someone from Lucknow, I'm thrilled about the new testing facility! 🎉 But we must remember BrahMos success comes from decades of hard work by our scientists and stable policies. The article rightly highlights contributions from all governments - that's how democracy should work.
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Rahul S.
While continuity is important, let's not forget current government's push for BrahMos exports to friendly nations. That's taking our defense capabilities to global stage! The Philippines deal shows how far we've come from just development phase.
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Neha T.
The Russia collaboration angle is interesting given current geopolitics. We must ensure such critical defense tech remains fully under our control. Hope we're developing next-gen missiles with indigenous tech too - 'Make in India' should mean more than just assembly.
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Vikram J.
Credit where it's due - Dr. Kalam's vision was instrumental. But can we talk about the scientists working day-night in DRDO labs? They're the real heroes behind BrahMos, not the politicians taking credit. Our media should highlight their stories more often.
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Sunita P.
As a defense analyst, I appreciate this balanced view. Too often we see either complete denial of past contributions or refusal to acknowledge current progress. BrahMos story shows how institutions matter more than individuals in nation-building. 🙏

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BrahMos Missile Jairam Ramesh Indo-Russian Collaboration Missile Technology Indian Defense