Lucknow: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday flagged off the first batch of BrahMos missiles manufactured at the city’s BrahMos Aerospace facility, marking a significant step under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.
The missiles were produced at the new integration and test facility in Sarojini Nagar, Lucknow, which was inaugurated on May 11, 2025. The state-of-the-art unit is equipped for missile integration, testing, and final quality checks, enabling full-scale indigenous production. Following successful testing, the missiles are ready for deployment with the Indian armed forces.
This milestone is seen as a boost to the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC) and reinforces India’s push for self-reliance in defence manufacturing. BrahMos, developed jointly by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya, has previously demonstrated its strategic impact, notably during India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’ following the Pahalgam terror attack, striking Pakistani air bases and army installations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier praised the performance of indigenous weapons during the operation, highlighting the BrahMos missiles as a key example of India’s defence capabilities and the strength of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
The flagging-off ceremony in Lucknow was also attended by Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, Minister Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi, and several senior officials. The event underscores the growing capabilities of India’s domestic defence industry and its contribution to national security.
