THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala got a New Year gift in the form of BrahMos Aerospace Thiruvananthapuram Ltd, the second missile making unit in the country inaugurated on Monday. Kerala Hitech Industries Ltd (Keltec) was formally handed over to Brahmos Aerospace, an Indo-Russian joint venture, by chief minister VS Achuthanandan in Thiruvananthapuram.
“I am happy to hand over Keltec to Brahmos. Not because we are losing a public sector unit. We hope that the sick public sector unit is going to progress under the missile making unit,” Achuthanandan said after handing over the unit to defence minister AK Antony at a function in Thiruvananthapuram.
“BrahMos Thiruvananthapuram could produce the supersonic missile for our defence forces. But everything depends on the units functioning in the next two years,” Antony said. BrahMos, the second supersonic missile manufacturing unit, will produce missile components to be assembled in Hyderabad.
Keltec, rechristened BrahMos Aeorospace (T) Limited, would be assigned the design, manufacture and integration of supersonic cruise missiles. BrahMos would continue to develop components of new generation launch vehicles for ISRO, DRDO and BARC. BrahMos Aerospace is the first defence manufacturing unit in the state.
BrahMos, the fastest supersonic missile, would usher in an era of development for the Kerala PSU. The unit, which will make components for BrahMos, will soon be elevated to the position of a full-fledged manufacturing unit. A total investment of Rs125 crore is anticipated in the unit.
The chief minister said that the unit anticipates an investment of Rs1,500 crore in the second phase of development. Five acres of land adjacent to the unit has already been acquired for expanding its operations.
The BrahMos missile, with a maximum range of 290 km, can be launched from submarines, naval ships, aircraft and land.
s_don@dnaindia.net
