India is pushing hard to achieve 100 percent indigenization of content in the widely acclaimed BrahMos missile, regarded as the fastest supersonic weapons platform on the planet.
At present, the indigenous content in the BrahMos stands at 76 percent, which is set to increase to 85 percent with the induction of locally produced target seekers and rocket boosters before the South Asian country touches the 100 percent mark by its target year of 2026.
BrahMos, an Indo-Russian joint venture - with New Delhi holding a 51 percent stake and Moscow occupying the remaining 49 percent, is one of the biggest success stories in India's scheme of defense exports.
India Makes Maiden Export Delivery of BrahMos Missiles
Last week, India delivered the maiden consignment of the BrahMos missiles to the Philippines, as part of its maiden $375 million order, a first for the world's largest democratic sovereign state.
Against this backdrop, military watchers in India are quite optimistic about the BrahMos' export trajectory experiencing a noticeable uptick post 100 percent indigenization.
According to Major General (Retd) Ashok Kumar, who is a Kargil War veteran and a defense analyst, the profile of the BrahMos is expected to go up a few notches once the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) succeeds in its plan to assemble the Brahmos with local content in totality.
He reckoned that this development would not only be beneficial for the Indian Defense Forces but also for nations that share friendly ties with New Delhi because having 100 percent indigenous content in the BrahMos will make it cheaper than what it is now.
How the Development Impacts the 'Confidence' of Foreign Buyers?
"As 24 percent content of the BrahMos is sourced from abroad, some buyers are not fully confident about the BrahMos missiles being fully serviced in India," Kumar, who currently serves as the Director General of the New Delhi-based strategic affairs think tank, Centre For Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS), told Sputnik India on Tuesday.
"However, these countries are more than keen to acquire the BrahMos missiles to meet both the defensive and offensive requirements of their respective militaries," he added.
Kumar noted that that's why the Government of India has expedited the indigenization process of the BrahMos and with this happening, the foreign countries will become certain that New Delhi will be able to provide them an "uninterrupted supply" to meet the operational requirements of their armed forces.
Game Changer For Indian Armed Forces and Its Friends Abroad
"Hence, DRDO's ongoing project to fully indigenous the BrahMos missile will be a game changer. It will ensure that there's no delay in the supply of the missiles to overseas buyers, especially during the time of a conflict. At the same time, all those countries who have bought or are on the verge of signing contracts with India, are assured of regular supply. This will ensure that India's dream of becoming an arms exporter is met with profound success and this stand-alone equipment will be able to garner a tremendous amount of export value," the Indian Army veteran stressed.
Kumar underlined that India was on the verge of reaching a status wherein it would be able to produce the bulk of the requirements of its armed forces locally.
New Delhi's Focus on Local Production: How Russia Could Emerge as a Winner
"In such a situation, the relationship with time-tested partners like Russia is going to be very very important - there can be multiple joint ventures that can be set up in India where joint production can be executed," the international relations expert stated.
As per his assessment, this will ensure that not only friendly nations to India but also those countries that are buying their equipment from Russia are assured of supply.
"Moreover, with these factories and facilities being located in India, Russia will get a surety, that in adversarial conditions like the one it finds itself in today, there will be no shortage of ammunition and other weapons platforms for its military," Kumar concluded.