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India-Pak News: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday virtually inaugurated a new BrahMos supersonic cruise missile production facility in Lucknow, marking a major stride for India’s defence manufacturing ambitions. Set up under the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor, the facility is expected to produce 80 to 100 BrahMos missiles annually, according to an IANS report.The development comes even as tensions with Pakistan begin to de-escalate. For the first time in nearly a week, the Kashmir Valley witnessed a calm night—free from air raid sirens, drones, or missile fire—offering a brief moment of relief.Highlighting the importance of the day, Rajnath Singh noted the coincidence with National Technology Day. “On this very day in 1998, under the leadership of the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji, India demonstrated its nuclear capabilities through the Pokhran tests. That historic moment was the result of tireless efforts by our scientists, engineers, and defence personnel. Today is a day to honour their contributions and reaffirm our technological resolve,” he said.VIDEO | Defence Minister Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) virtually inaugurates BrahMos supersonic cruise missile production unit in Lucknow. #BrahMos #BrahMosMissile pic.twitter.com/FLdxeKBx5i

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 11, 2025Recalling the project's foundation, Singh added, “I clearly remember expressing my wish for early completion when I laid the foundation stone. I’m pleased to see that you respected my sentiments and delivered the project in just 40 months. Given the current geopolitical climate, timely execution of our goals is more critical than ever.”Also Read:Operation Sindoor Continues: IAF successfully executes assigned tasks with precision and professionalism after Pak ceasefire violations Speaking at the event, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended congratulations to the armed forces, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rajnath Singh for the success of ‘Operation Sindoor’. “On behalf of the people of Uttar Pradesh, I thank the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister for their efforts in turning the state into a major defence manufacturing hub,” he said.

Built at a cost of Rs 300 crore, the facility will also produce 100 to 150 next-generation BrahMos missiles annually. The upgraded variant is lighter—down from 2,900 kg to 1,290 kg—and boasts a longer strike range of over 300 km. Thanks to the weight reduction, aircraft like the Sukhoi can now carry up to three next-gen BrahMos missiles instead of just one.

Developed by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between India’s DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya, the missile is known for its precision-strike capabilities and operates on a “fire and forget” system. The unit’s foundation stone was laid in 2021 and has been constructed on 80 hectares of land provided free by the Uttar Pradesh government.

Also Read:'Pak is rogue state, can never be trusted,' Army veterans slam ceasefire violations  

Alongside the missile unit, the Defence Minister will also inaugurate the Aerospace Integration and Testing Facility and launch the Titanium and Super Alloys Materials Plant. A foundation stone will also be laid for a Defence Testing Infrastructure System (DTIS), aimed at becoming a hub for testing and certifying defence equipment.

The event will be attended by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The Defence Industrial Corridor spans six key nodes in the state—Lucknow, Kanpur, Aligarh, Agra, Jhansi, and Chitrakoot—and is positioned to turn Uttar Pradesh into a major defence manufacturing hub, second only to Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, in the Kashmir valley, a fragile calm has returned. For the first time in six days, there were no sounds of missiles, drones or aircraft through the night, offering a brief but welcome sense of normalcy.

“There was no ceasefire violation reported from any sector along the Line of Control in Kashmir after 11 pm on Saturday,” officials in Srinagar said, PTI reported.

Residents like Shahjahan Dar from Rawalpora expressed relief. “It has been a while since we slept peacefully. We are thankful to Almighty and everyone who helped end this war,” he said.

However, many who had fled their homes in border areas remain cautious. Abdul Aziz from Uri, for instance, said, “We saw drones and rockets even after the ceasefire was announced. We are hoping it lasts, but we’ll wait a few more days before going back.”

The ceasefire was agreed upon on Saturday evening after India and Pakistan’s Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) held talks. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that both sides have agreed to stop all hostilities—on land, air and sea—starting 5 pm Saturday.

The announcement came shortly after US President Donald Trump stated that the two countries had agreed to a “full and immediate ceasefire,” following mediation efforts by the US.

(With Inputs from agencies)

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