Director General, BRAHMOS
Dr Jaiteerth R Joshi has recently assumed the role of Director General of BRAHMOS, the organization behind the world’s most powerful supersonic cruise missile system. With vast experience in the design, development, and production of tactical missile systems, Dr Joshi has led major projects, including the joint development of the Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LRSAM) and Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM). In an interview with Aeromag, he discusses BRAHMOS’ capabilities, export operations and future. “BRAHMOS is already a market leader in its genre worldwide. No other country has fielded such a versatile, multi-role system having supersonic speed with precision firepower. It is also a key asset for modern network-centric combat operations,” he remarks.
The emergence of BRAHMOS has greatly enhanced India’s technological base and global standing. As the new Chief, how do you plan to ensure that BRAHMOS continues to lead the world in cruise missile systems?
BRAHMOS is the world’s best supersonic cruise missile system actively operational in India’s Tri-Services. The inception of this lethal tactical weapon propelled India into the ‘supersonic era’ years ago. As a state-of-art system infused with cutting-edge technologies, BRAHMOS has constantly evolved since its maiden launch in June 2001, unequivocally meeting and fulfilling the Indian Armed Forces’ requirements time and again.
It’s a huge honour to be a part of the BRAHMOS JV which has established itself as a globally reckoned defence entity today. As the new Chief, I will take forward the glorious legacy of my predecessors who have made incessant efforts to take the JV to greater heights. Development of next-generation BRAHMOS with indigenous technologies would be my primary focus area. I will also ensure that the supersonic cruise missile makes newer waves across the world by getting more and more export orders in near future.
BRAHMOS is the only supersonic cruise missile in the triad of any armed force. What does this distinction signify for its strategic value and role in the country’s defence system?
BRAHMOS is a modern tactical weapon having huge strategic value. This universal missile can be deployed and launched from ground, ship and air platforms. With its deployment across the country’s strategic frontiers, India has hugely bolstered its overall defence and deterrence posture. The frontline platforms of Indian Tri-Services are armed with the precision strike system which has given them a distinct edge in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Could you share your thoughts on how BRAHMOS’ multi-platform capability, which includes land, sea, air, and underwater launch options, will evolve in the future?
As an incredibly versatile missile, BRAHMOS has already established its credence as a multi-role, multi-platform system. Its future evolution would be the BRAHMOS-NG variant which would be a compact, yet more advanced derivative of the existing system in terms of speed, stealth, precision power and other enhanced features.
The next-generation missile variant would be developed and fielded first in air-launched configuration, and subsequently for launch from naval ships and ground platforms. As the producer of the world’s fastest, deadliest cruise missile system, BRAHMOS Aerospace has already mastered many intricate technologies related to precision weaponry. So, by developing BRAHMOS-NG, we would definitely retain our competitive edge worldwide as this new system would hold immense potential to influence modern battlefields in a decisive way.
How much indigenization has BRAHMOS achieved so far, and do you believe that reaching 100% indigenization is a realistic and desirable goal?
The level of indigenisation in BRAHMOS has reached quite high today and it may go up further. In close coordination with DRDO and our industrial partners, we have been able to reach this level which is quite a remarkable feat in itself. While 100% indigenisation is possible, being a joint venture (JV) entity between DRDO and Russia’s NPOM, we would like to continue working with our Russian partners who have played a pivotal role in the design and development of this world-class weapon.
While the level of indigenisation would be significant in the next derivative BRAHMOS-NG, and we will be working in coordination with our Russian partners for some of the critical cutting-edge technologies which would go into this new, futuristic weapon.
How do you plan to expand BRAHMOS’ export potential, especially with growing interest from countries around the world?
BRAHMOS has already devised an excellent export strategy which has resulted in the landmark export deal with the Republic of the Philippines in 2022. This historic breakthrough has given the JV entity’s farsighted ‘Mind-to-Market’ strategy a new momentum to gain access into newer, wider markets.
As a new-age precision weapon, BRAHMOS has all the vantage to capture the global market. I will ensure that “team BRAHMOS” works assiduously to expand the weapon’s export potential internationally and very soon we will see some more export orders to move towards the goal of 5 Billion US dollars worth of export of defence products set by our honourable Prime Minister.
What is the latest update on the development of BRAHMOS NG and the Hypersonic BRAHMOS-II (K), and how do you see these variants enhancing the defence capabilities?
Presently, we are working on the BRAHMOS-NG programme which is at design stage. Once the design blueprint is finalised, we will start working on the prototype development. The first prototype would be integrated on Su-30MKI fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force.
The Hypersonic BRAHMOS-II weapon programme is in pipeline, but it may take some more years to come into realisation stage, as hypersonics technology is at a stage of evolution worldwide.
Considering the rapid pace of advancements in defence technology, where do you see BRAHMOS in the next 5-10 years, both in terms of its performance and its position in the global market?
BRAHMOS is already a market leader in its genre worldwide. No other country has fielded such a versatile, multi-role system having supersonic speed with precision firepower. It is also a key asset for modern network-centric combat operations. Our R & D team is constantly involved in making the system more advance, accurate and lethal to maintain its supremacy in the years to come. We have already set our future course of action. So yes, in the next 5-10 years, BRAHMOS is going to outshine all other systems in terms of both its performance and presence in the world.
