Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Lays Foundation Stone of DRDO Centre in Lucknow, Lauds Yogi

LUCKNOW: Union Defence minister Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stone for Defence Technology & Test Centre and BRAHMOS Manufacturing Centre, established by Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) in Lucknow on Sunday. The ceremony was also attended by Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath.

During his address, Singh lauded the ‘efforts and readiness’ of the Adityanath in acquiring 200 acres of land for the project in less than two months which he personally said he thought would take more than six to eight months.

In an official statement issued by the Ministry of Defence, the main objective of the facility is to “carry forward lineage of the BRAHMOS weapons system. This new centre would be ready over the next two to three years and will commence production at a rate of 80-100 BRAHMOS-NG missiles per year.”

Singh said that the centre will provide the technological base to develop defence products “keeping in mind the young innovators and startups” in Amausi region of Uttar Pradesh. He added that the centre will make all “endeavours to fulfil the creative energy, capabilities and aspirations of the youth” of Uttar Pradesh. “It will help in bringing the MSMEs of Uttar Pradesh together and bring the state at the forefront in the field of defence and aerospace manufacturing,” he said. He added that the centre, through skill development, will create direct and indirect employment in the field of defence and aerospace manufacturing.

The BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile system has been known to be one of the most successful missile programmes in the world. India has undertaken jointly in partnership with Russia and the system is designed and developed by India-Russia JV entity BrahMos Aerospace.

Making a stand on India’s defence policy, Singh said “we have never been an aggressor, but are ready to defend our people against any nation with hostile intentions”. He added that “the purpose of the BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile system is to act as a deterrent”. He said, the system not only reflects the technical cooperation between India and Russia, but also the long standing cultural, political and diplomatic ties.

He termed BRAHMOS as ‘the world’s best and fastest precision-guided weapon which has strengthened India’s credible deterrence in the century.’

READ: Building A Steady Defence Future, India Successfully Test Fires Supersonic Missile Assisted Torpedo

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