Date:31/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/31/stories/2008053154120800.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Army has fastest cruise missile: Sivathanu Pillai

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: A. Sivathanu Pillai, Chief Controller, R & D, Defence Research and Development Organisation, said here on Thursday that the Indian Army had the fastest cruise missile to hit land targets.

Speaking at a function after laying the foundation for the Weapon Integration Facility of ‘BrahMos Complex’ on the campus of the Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) here, Dr. Pillai, who is also the Managing Director of BrahMos Aerospace Limited, said the speed, power and precision of BrahMos missile were unmatched.

It had the most sophisticated ground complex with a Mobile Command Post (MCP) and Mobile Autonomous Launcher (MAL) to win wars, he added.

He said ECIL had supplied the MCPs and MALs to BrahMos Aerospace meeting the stringent quality requirements of the Indian Army.

Pat for ECIL

He congratulated ECIL for supplying the required systems and said they functioned excellently even in extreme environmental conditions and the high altitudes of the country’s borders.

The CMD, ECIL, K.S. Rajasekhara Rao, thanked BrahMos Aerospace for giving ECIL an opportunity to participate in a programme of strategic and high national importance. Others present included Sharad Kumar and Rear Admiral S. Mohapatra, Deputy CEO and Executive Director of BrahMos Aerospace, respectively.