“The launch of the BrahMos facility is a firm stride towards making India a significant player in the world’s defence production ecosystem.” Raksha Mantri
Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister) Rajnath Singh has virtually inaugurated the BrahMos Integration and Testing Facility Centre in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on May 11, 2025. During his virtual address, Raksha Mantri said that the new facility will strengthen India’s efforts towards Aatmanirbharta in defence and contribute to the socio-economic development of the region by generating significant direct & indirect employment. He described the inauguration on National Technology Day as a landmark moment, which reflects India’s growing innovative energy and aligns with the rapid global transformation in critical, high end and frontier technologies.
Speaking about the nation’s great success in the ongoing conflict with Pakistan, he said: “Operation Sindoor was not just a military action, but a symbol of India’s political, social and strategic willpower.” He described the operation as a demonstration of India’s strong willpower against terrorism and the capability & determination of the Armed Forces, which ensured justice to the innocent families who lost their loved ones at the hands of anti-India and terrorist organizations on the Indian soil.
Rajnath Singh called BrahMos as not just one of the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missiles, but a message of the strength of the Indian Armed Forces, a message of deterrence to adversaries, and a message of the nation’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding its borders. He added that BrahMos is a confluence of top defence technologies of India and Russia.
Quoting the Missile Man of India and former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam who had said ‘Unless India stands up to the world, no one will respect us. In this world, fear has no place, only strength respects strength’, the Raksha Mantri stated that India is one of the most powerful nations today and the centre will help in further strengthening India’s power.
Terming the facility as a matter of pride for the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC), Mr. Singh stated that it has already created around 500 direct and 1,000 indirect jobs, reflecting the state’s growing stature as a defence manufacturing hub. He emphasized that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi-led Government’s vision of setting-up the corridor rests on its goal of developing the state as the world’s top defence production and export destination.
“A total of 180 MoUs have, so far, been signed in UPDIC with a proposed investment of ₹34,000 crore, and an investment of ₹4,000 crore has already been made. Major investments have been made in Aircraft manufacturing, UAVs, Drones, Ammunition, Composite & Critical materials, Small Arms, Textile and Parachute etc. The highlight is that the participation of both public sector and the private sectors are being witnessed. In Lucknow itself, titanium and super alloy material plants are being started by PTC Industries Limited. In addition, the foundation of seven additional critical projects is being laid. This would accelerate the pace of India’s self-reliance in the defence sector,” the Raksha Mantri said.
He reiterated the Government’s vision of ‘Make-in-India, Make-for-the-World’, stressing that self-reliance not only means catering to India’s own security needs, but it also envisages making the country a key exporter of defence equipment to the global market. Citing a recent report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, which said that global military expenditure has risen to $2,718 billion in 2024, he stated that such a massive market is an opportunity India must seize. “The launch of the BrahMos facility is a firm stride towards making India a significant player in the world’s defence production ecosystem,” he said.
Raksha Mantri appreciated the efforts of the Uttar Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath, DRDO scientists, engineers, and other stakeholders for completing the project within 40 months. “Given the current circumstances, it is crucial that we continue to achieve our goals in a time-bound and efficient manner,” he said. He credited the state government for creating a strong development ecosystem and implementing initiatives such as setting-up of UPDIC, establishment of DRDO’s Defence Technology & Test Centre in Lucknow and hosting DefExpo in 2020.
Speaking at the inauguration site, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh for moving forward with the goal of making Lucknow a defence manufacturing hub. He said the facility in Lucknow will give a fillip to the Make-in-India initiative, Aatmanirbharta and investment in defence manufacturing.
On the state’s initiatives to promote defence manufacturing, Yogi Adityanath said the work is proceeding with pace under all the six nodes of the UPDIC. He listed various projects in defence manufacturing that are being established in the state, covering both public and private industries.
The UP Chief Minister hailed Operation Sindoor as a message to the world that India no longer tolerates terrorism. There can be no solution to terrorism other than being absolutely crushed, he said.
The 200-acre BrahMos Integration and Testing Facility Centre in Lucknow will have integration of Booster subassemblies, Avionics, Propellant, Ramjet engines. The programme centre with Design & Administrative blocks are also being planned in the complex.
The approximately ₹300 crore complex will pave the way for skill development for industry and entrepreneurs in a long way. The entire defence ecosystem of ancillary and sub-assemblies will be developed in the vicinity to support the complex. It will help in a big way in industrialization and skill development of students of ITI, Supervisors, Engineers. It will ensure that people are not forced to migrate to look for job opportunities.
Source: PIB
