In a major boost for indigenous defence production, India will officially hand over its first batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles manufactured at the new Lucknow facility to the Armed Forces on October 18. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will preside over the landmark flag-off ceremony.

Located in Bhatgaon within the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor, the state-of-the-art plant was inaugurated in May at a cost of ₹300 crore. Spread across 80 hectares with modern production lines and stringent quality controls, it will initially manufacture 80-100 missiles annually, scaling to 150 as operations stabilise.

The BrahMos, a joint Indo-Russian venture with India holding 50.5% stake, travels at nearly Mach 3 (three times the speed of sound) with a strike range of 290-400 kilometres. Its "fire-and-forget" capability and radar-evading design make it a formidable weapon deployable from land, sea, and air platforms.

Beyond bolstering national security, the facility promises significant local employment and industrial growth, reinforcing the "Make in India" initiative in high-tech defence manufacturing while positioning India for future defence exports.