Context:

• On 11 May 2025, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a state-of-the-art BrahMos missile production unit in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
• This facility is part of the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC) at the Lucknow node.

Key Features of the Production Unit:

• Cost of Construction: ₹300 crore
• Area: 80 hectares
• Production Capacity: 80 to 100 BrahMos missiles per year
• Missile Range: 290 to 400 kilometers
• Maximum Speed: Mach 2.8 (about three times the speed of sound)
• Operator: BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between India and Russia

Strategic Significance:

• A major step toward strengthening India’s self-reliant defence manufacturing capabilities.
• BrahMos can be launched from land, sea, and air platforms, and operates on the “fire and forget” guidance principle.
• The inauguration is strategically timed amid tensions at the India-Pakistan border, and follows the missile’s deployment during "Operation Sindoor", showcasing its effectiveness.

Background:

• The foundation stone of the unit was laid in 2021.
• The Defence Corridor was announced by PM Narendra Modi at the 2018 Global Investors Summit.

About BrahMos Missile:

• A long-range, nuclear-capable supersonic cruise missile system.
• Jointly developed by DRDO (India) and NPO Mashinostroyenia (Russia).
• Named after two rivers: Brahmaputra (India) and Moskva (Russia).
• First successful test on 12 June 2001 from a land-based launcher at Chandipur, Odisha.

Functionality & Roles:

BrahMos is a multi-role missile designed to hit diverse targets:

• Land-based targets: enemy command centers, bunkers, bridges, etc.
• Naval targets: warships and maritime vessels
• Aerial targets: in certain versions (though primarily used for surface-surface operations)

Key Operational Features:

• High speed (up to Mach 3), high precision
• Multi-platform compatibility
• “Fire and Forget” guidance—no further assistance needed post-launch

BrahMos Missile Variants:

Significance of BrahMos for India:

• Enhanced Defence Capability: Offers long-range precision strike capacity, strengthening deterrence.
• Strategic Superiority: High speed and low radar signature make it difficult for enemies to intercept.
• Versatility: Launchable from land, sea, and air, adding flexibility to operations.
• Self-Reliance: Boosts domestic defence production, reducing dependency on imports.
• Export Potential: Gaining international interest; first batch delivered to the Philippines in 2024.
• Industrial Development: Supports growth of defence industrial corridors and job creation, as seen with the new Lucknow facility.

Defence Corridor

A Defence Corridor is a designated industrial zone developed specifically for the manufacturing, research, and development of military equipment, weapons, and defence systems.

The primary aim is to boost domestic production to meet national defence needs, achieve self-reliance in the defence sector, and strengthen the 'Make in India' initiative.

Key Objectives:

• Promote indigenous production of defence equipment and weapons
• Reduce dependence on foreign imports in the defence sector
• Enhance the operational capability of the armed forces
• Integrate local industries, MSMEs, public and private sectors into defence manufacturing
• Generate employment and stimulate economic growth

Defence Corridors in India

Currently, two major Defence Industrial Corridors are being developed in India:

1. Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC)

• Announced: In 2018
• Nodal Agency: Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA)
• Major Nodes: Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra, Aligarh, Jhansi, and Chitrakoot
• A key recent development within this corridor is the inauguration of the BrahMos missile production unit in Lucknow.
• UPDIC aims to attract significant investment (target: ₹50,000 crore) and generate job opportunities.
• It offers various incentives to manufacturers including discounts on land costs, stamp duty exemptions, and capital subsidies.

2. Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor (TNDIC)

• Inaugurated: In 2019
• Nodal Agency: Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO)
• Major Nodes: Chennai, Coimbatore, Hosur, Salem, and Tiruchirappalli

Tamil Nadu has a strong existing industrial base and is a preferred destination for several Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and private industries.

• TNDIC also provides multiple incentives to attract investment and promote manufacturing.