SOURCE: AFI
In a compelling recent interview, Dr. A. Sivathanu Pillai, PhD, D.Sc., the visionary Founder CEO and Managing Director of BrahMos Aerospace (1995-2014), shed light on the origins and evolution of the Indo-Russian BrahMos project. A key highlight of the discussion was his revelation about the significant role played by Russian President Vladimir Putin in fostering this landmark joint venture between Russia and India.
Dr. Pillai, a renowned scientist and the driving force behind BrahMos, emphasized Putin’s personal enthusiasm for the project. He noted that Putin was keenly interested in ensuring the success of the collaboration, viewing it as a model for future Indo-Russian partnerships.
This high-level support was instrumental in overcoming bureaucratic hurdles and securing the necessary commitments from both nations. The BrahMos missile, a supersonic cruise missile named after the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers, symbolizes the strong bilateral ties and technological synergy between India and Russia.
During his tenure, Dr. Pillai navigated the complexities of the joint venture, which began with an inter-governmental agreement signed in 1998. He credited Putin’s intervention as a critical factor in aligning the efforts of India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya. This collaboration has since produced a missile system renowned for its precision and speed, establishing BrahMos Aerospace as a global leader in defense technology.
NOTE: AFI is a proud outsourced content creator partner of IDRW.ORG. All content created by AFI is the sole property of AFI and is protected by copyright. AFI takes copyright infringement seriously and will pursue all legal options available to protect its content.