The engines will be produced at the Brahmos plant in the state ofKerala in southeastern India, Pillai said. In two years its productionvolumes will exceed the manufacturing capabilities of the plant inRussia's Orenburg which currently produces the engines.
He said the decision was made due to a mounting demand for Brahmos missiles in the Indian Armed Forces.
The BrahMos missile has a range of 290 km (180 miles) and can carrya conventional warhead of up to 300 kg (660 lbs). It can effectivelyengage ground targets from an altitude as low as 10 meters (30 feet)and has a top speed of Mach 2.8, which is about three times faster thanthe U.S.-made subsonic Tomahawk cruise missile.
Established in 1998, BrahMos Aerospace, a joint Indian-Russianventure, produces and markets BrahMos supersonic missiles. The sea- andground-launched versions have been successfully tested and put intoservice with the Indian Army and Navy.
