The missile’s creator, Dr. A.S. Pillai, replied with biting humor: “For Pakistan, it would be free of cost.”
A Question, A Quip: The BrahMos Moment That Went Viral
In the high-stakes world of global defense expos, where billion-dollar deals and strategic alliances are forged, humor is rare. But at a recent arms exhibition in Dubai, a moment of levity cut through the tension, one that has since become a viral sensation across South Asia.
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Dr. Apathukatha Sivathanu Pillai, the man widely hailed as the “father of BrahMos,” was approached by a senior Pakistani army general. The question posed was as audacious as it was unexpected: Would India consider selling the BrahMos missile to Pakistan?
Pillai’s response was swift and razor-sharp: “For Pakistan, it would be free of cost.” The room reportedly fell silent before erupting in laughter. But beneath the humor lay a deeper message, India’s most advanced supersonic cruise missile is not just a weapon; it’s a symbol of strategic deterrence and national pride.
The BrahMos, jointly developed by India’s DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya, is the fastest supersonic cruise missile in the world, capable of flying at Mach 2.8 to 3.5. With a range now extended up to 800 km and future variants expected to reach 1,500 km, it can be launched from land, sea, air, and submarine platforms.
BrahMos and the Battlefield: From Deterrence to Deployment
The timing of Pillai’s anecdote is significant. It comes on the heels of Operation Sindoor, India’s retaliatory strike following the Pahalgam terror attack. During the operation, Indian forces launched over 15 BrahMos missiles at key Pakistani airbases and terror infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The strikes reportedly achieved near-pinpoint accuracy, with a circular error probable (CEP) of just 1-2 meters.
This battlefield performance has elevated BrahMos from a deterrent to a proven combat asset. Its stealth capabilities, fire-and-forget navigation, and low radar signature make it a formidable tool in India’s strategic arsenal. The missile’s success has also boosted India’s defense export ambitions, with countries like the Philippines already signing deals and others expressing interest.
For Pakistan, whose Babur and Ra’ad missiles remain subsonic and less accurate, BrahMos represents a technological chasm. The general’s question, though posed in jest, may have reflected a deeper strategic anxiety.
Symbolism and Strategy: Why the Joke Resonates
Pillai’s “free of cost” remark wasn’t just a punchline, it was a geopolitical statement. It underscored India’s refusal to normalize defense ties with a nation it views as a persistent security threat. It also highlighted the confidence India now wields in its indigenous defense capabilities.
The BrahMos program, once heavily reliant on Russian inputs, is now undergoing rapid indigenization. With support from private industry, DRDO is shifting production and development into Indian hands, ensuring greater autonomy in upgrades and deployment.
Moreover, the missile’s name itself, BrahMos, a portmanteau of the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers, symbolizes the strategic partnership between India and Russia. It’s a reminder that the missile is not just a product of engineering, but of diplomacy, vision, and national ambition.
Dr. Pillai credited former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam for inspiring the program. “He once asked me, ‘When will we be first?’” Pillai recalled. The BrahMos, in many ways, was India’s answer to that challenge, a missile that not only leads in speed and precision but also in symbolism.
Conclusion:
The viral exchange between Dr. Pillai and the Pakistani general may have been laced with humor, but its implications are anything but trivial. It reflects India’s growing confidence in its defense capabilities, its refusal to compromise on national security, and its ability to wield soft power through sharp wit.
As BrahMos continues to evolve, faster, farther, and more indigenously, India’s message to the world is clear: its defense diplomacy is as strategic as its missiles are swift.
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