Lucknow: India is set to witness a major milestone in indigenous defence production on Saturday, when the first batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles manufactured at the newly inaugurated Lucknow facility will be handed over. The Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath are scheduled to lead the flagoff ceremony.

The Lucknow unit, located at Bhatgaon within the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor, was formally inaugurated by the Defence Minister on May 11. Built at a cost of approximately Rs 300 crore over 80 hectares, the facility is equipped with modern production lines and stringent quality control systems, enabling it to manufacture missiles on a large scale.

Initially, the plant aims to produce 80-100 missiles annually, with plans to scale up to around 150 missiles per year as operations stabilise.

The facility is designed not only to meet the needs of the Indian Armed Forces but also to strengthen the country’s defence manufacturing base and support potential exports.

The BrahMos is a joint venture between India’s DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya, with India holding 50.5% and Russia 49.5% stakes.

The missile travels at nearly Mach 3, roughly three times the speed of sound, and has a strike range between 290 and 400 kilometres, depending on the variant.

Capable of launch from land, air, and sea platforms, it operates on a fire-and-forget principle and is designed to evade radar while striking precise targets.

Experts say the Lucknow facility marks a critical step towards self-reliance in strategic defence systems. Beyond its military utility, the project is expected to generate local employment, foster ancillary industries, and enhance India’s capacity to meet both domestic and regional demand, including for exports.