Navy Chief Declares BrahMos as Primary Weapon Following ₹19,000 Crore Deal Approval

Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar made a significant announcement on Monday, stating that the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile would become the Indian Navy’s primary weapon, replacing outdated missile systems acquired from other countries. In an interview with ANI, Admiral Kumar emphasized the evolving capabilities and lethality of the BrahMos, which is set to replace old missiles across naval platforms. He highlighted the advantage of the BrahMos being indigenous, stressing its reliability, ease of repair, and availability of spares.

This declaration follows the recent clearance by the Cabinet Committee on Security for a deal involving over 200 BrahMos missiles, valued at ₹19,000 crore, with the contract set to be signed on March 5. Admiral Kumar made these remarks on the sidelines of the closing ceremony of the Defence Expo held in Pune.

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During his visit to the Defence Expo, Admiral Kumar underscored the importance of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in India’s journey towards self-reliance in defense manufacturing. He praised the exhibition for bringing together various MSMEs and emphasized the significance of developing an ecosystem conducive to indigenization. Admiral Kumar highlighted the role of Defence Expos in facilitating indigenous production and expressed appreciation for the contributions of MSMEs and startups, noting that over 118 contracts had been signed and several products approved during the event.