Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Saturday flagged off the first batch of BrahMos missiles manufactured at the new BrahMos Aerospace facility in Lucknow, declaring that India’s military might has reached a stage where “victory has become a habit.”
In a forceful address, the Defence Minister praised the armed forces for the success of Operation Sindoor, stating it was proof of India’s formidable indigenous defence capabilities and a decisive moment in its security history.
“Operation Sindoor has proven that victory is no longer a minor incident for us. Victory has become our habit,” Rajnath Singh asserted while addressing a gathering at the facility. He credited the confidence gained from using indigenously-built systems during Operation Sindoor as the new backbone of India’s security strategy.
‘Every Inch of Pakistan Within Reach’
The Defence Minister used the occasion to send a stark, unambiguous warning to Pakistan, asserting that the supersonic BrahMos cruise missile has effectively eliminated any safe haven for India’s adversaries.
“The country is confident that our adversaries will no longer be able to escape BrahMos. Every inch of Pakistani territory is now within the reach of our BrahMos,” Singh declared.
He further intensified his message by referencing Operation Sindoor as a mere prelude to India’s full military potential. “What happened in Operation Sindoor was just a trailer. But that trailer itself made Pakistan realise that if India could give birth to Pakistan, then I need not say anything further about what else it could do,” he said, alluding to the 1971 war that led to the creation of Bangladesh.
Lucknow Facility: A Defence Hub
The flagging-off ceremony marked a major milestone for the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC). BrahMos Aerospace announced the successful completion of the first batch of missiles from its new integration and testing unit in Sarojini Nagar, Lucknow, which was inaugurated on May 11, 2025.
Rajnath Singh highlighted the economic and technological boost the facility will provide, stating the BrahMos team has recently signed international contracts worth approximately ₹4,000 crore with two countries within just one month.
“The turnover of BrahMos’ Lucknow unit will be around ₹3,000 crore from the next financial year. GST collection will be ₹5,000 crore per year,” he projected, envisioning Lucknow transforming into a global knowledge hub for defence technology.
CM Yogi Adityanath hailed the development as the “foundation of a self-reliant India,” noting that the state has already allocated over 2,500 acres of land for the defence corridor, generating more than 15,000 youth employment opportunities. He also noted that the state stands to receive an annual GST collection of ₹150 to ₹200 crore from the facility, which aims to produce up to 150 BrahMos missiles annually.