Zhukovsky Airbase (Russia): The aerial variant of the deadly Brahmos cruise missile, being developed jointly by India and Russia, has been for the first time put on display at the International Aerospace Show – MAKS-2003 near Moscow.

The missile is to be produced by Indo-Russian joint venture Brahmos, set up by Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russian NPO Mashinostroyeniya, which designed and produced all nuclear missiles for the powerful Soviet nuclear submarines and over 80 per cent of strategic nuclear missiles of the former USSR.

"It was Indian President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam's idea to jointly develop and market a unique cruise missile. As Indian government's scientific adviser during 1993, he had proposed this to our director Gerbert Yefremov, but due to financial and bureaucratic hassles the idea could fructify only in 1999," deputy chief designer of NPO Mashinostroyeniya, Alexander Leonov said.

A large photo display in the pavilion at the aerospace salon, shows India's 'missile man' Dr Kalam with Dr Yefremov in the office of NPO Mashinostroyeniya and Brahmos test-flights in India.

Leonov said trials are expected to be completed by the end of 2003 and serial production of the missile could commence next year with the simultaneous induction by the Indian and Russian armed forces.

PTI