Lucknow, Oct. 18 -- On a festive Dhanteras morning, Lucknow witnessed a defining moment in India's defence journey as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off the first batch of BrahMos missiles built at the city's new manufacturing facility. Standing before engineers, soldiers, and dignitaries, Singh issued a sharp warning to Pakistan, declaring that "every inch of its territory is now within the reach of BrahMos."
Calling the missile launch a "proud chapter in India's march toward self-reliance," Singh said the event symbolised both strategic confidence and industrial achievement. "What the world saw in Operation Sindoor was just a glimpse-just a trailer-of India's capability," he said. "If India could create Pakistan, I need not say what else it can do."
Joined by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Singh celebrated the Lucknow-based BrahMos Aerospace unit's success in achieving production within just five months of its inauguration. Built on 200 acres at a cost of Rs 380 crore, the facility is expected to produce around 100 supersonic missiles annually for the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Singh hailed the BrahMos missile as a "symbol of India's technological power and precision strike capability," noting that the indigenously developed system now forms the backbone of India's deterrence strategy. "Our adversaries can no longer hide behind borders. BrahMos has the speed, accuracy, and range to reach wherever necessary," he said.
The Defence Minister revealed that BrahMos Aerospace has recently secured defence export contracts worth Rs 4,000 crore with two countries, marking India's growing stature as an arms supplier. "India is now a nation that provides security, not seeks it," Singh said, adding that the Lucknow plant alone will generate a turnover of Rs 3,000 crore and contribute nearly Rs 5,000 crore annually in GST once it reaches full capacity.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the project had put Uttar Pradesh firmly on India's defence map. "So far, we have provided over 2,500 acres for six defence nodes, creating jobs for 15,000 youth," he said. "The BrahMos project alone will add Rs 150 to Rs 200 crore annually to the state's GST revenue when production reaches its peak."
Lauding Adityanath's leadership, Singh said, "From a land once known for crime, Uttar Pradesh has transformed into a hub of innovation and defence manufacturing. This is Yogi's Uttar Pradesh-secure, industrious, and self-reliant."
Singh also performed a symbolic act before the flag-off, planting a Rudraksha sapling and seeking divine blessings for the nation's security. "Lucknow is not just my parliamentary constituency-it lives in my heart. Seeing this city lead India's defence revolution fills me with immense pride," he said.
Senior DRDO scientists, state ministers including Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak and Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi, and top officials from BrahMos Aerospace attended the event.
With the first four BrahMos missiles rolling out on Dhanteras, India not only demonstrated technological excellence but also sent a clear signal across its borders. The Lucknow plant's success has turned the city into a key node in the country's defence production network-where technology, pride, and strategy converge in a new era of national strength.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.