BrahMos is India's most successful missile: Antony

Defence Minister A K Antony on Monday said BrahMos supersonic cruise missile would be inducted in the Air Force, besides Army and Navy.

Speaking at the function to mark the takeover of state-run Kerala Hightech Ltd by BrahMos Aerospace Ltd in Thiruvananthapuram, Antony said the missile which was accepted by Army and Navy was the most successful and sought-after.

BrahMos cruise missile was the fastest missile and it was a real "Brahmashtra" in all sense of the term, he said.

The missile produced by Indo-Russia joint venture BrahMos Aerospace Ltd was also a successful joint venture between the two countries, he said.

However, Antony reminded the trade unions in the state about the sensitive nature of the defence unit and sought their co-operation in running the unit without any problems.

The unit will be renamed as BrahMos Aerospace, Thiruvananthapuram Ltd.

Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, who handed over the symbolic 'key' of the Kerala Hightech Ltd to Antony, said Kerala was a suitable destination for investments even though a campaign  to the contrary was being spread by vested interests.

The signing of agreement for the mega IT Smartcity project with Dubai based TECOM was a best example of investment friendly climate in the state, he said.

BrahMos CMD Shivathanu Pillai, ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair, India's first astronaut Rakesh Sharma and state minister attended the function.