Looking to have JVs like BrahMos; can't produce everything in India: CDS

India is looking to establish joint ventures like BrahMos Aerospace and is seeking a collaborative approach to produce weapons as it is not possible to produce everything domestically, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan has said. He said strategic autonomy that India seeks will come only through strategic capability and partnerships are the way ahead.

"Aatmanirbharta does not mean that we are going to produce everything in India. That is not possible for a developing country like ours. We are going to establish joint ventures and BrahMos Aerospace is one such venture. It has been a major success story," he said. Gen Chauhan was speaking at a BrahMos Aerospace user meet.

The CDS said BrahMos is the weapon of choice of the three armed forces and will promote jointness between them. He also noted the weapon is now being exported to the Philippines and several steps have been taken to produce several critical parts indigenously.


Army chief Gen Manoj Pande said that the system has given the armed forces not just deterrence capability but also the capability to respond to any threats "robustly when required".

"Due to our legacy issues of unsettled borders and related security challenges, possession of strategic deterrence instruments in our case is essential," he said.

IAF chief said work has already started on a next generation version of the missile that will be smaller in size - BrahMos NG.

Rafales Indian Ocean Exercise

IAF demonstrated its capability to carry out long-range strikes with an exercise involving four Rafale fighter jets that simulated a mission over the Indian Ocean Region. The jets flew for over six hours.