Lucknow: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday lauded India’s military preparedness and hailed the success of Operation Sindoor, asserting that the country has reached a stage where “victory has become a habit.” Speaking at an event in Lucknow alongside Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Singh highlighted India’s enhanced missile capabilities and issued a pointed warning to Pakistan.

Operation Sindoor and Military Readiness

Addressing the gathering, Rajnath Singh said, “Operation Sindoor has proven that victory is no longer a minor incident for us. Victory has become our habit.” He emphasized that India’s adversaries could no longer evade the nation’s advanced missile systems, reinforcing the country’s strategic strength.

The defence minister’s remarks came as he, along with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, flagged off the first batch of BrahMos missiles manufactured at the newly established BrahMos Aerospace facility in Sarojini Nagar, Lucknow.

BrahMos Aerospace in Lucknow

BrahMos Aerospace, known for producing the supersonic cruise missile system, recently completed production of its first batch from the Lucknow integration and testing unit. The state-of-the-art facility, inaugurated on May 11, 2025, is equipped for missile integration, testing, and final quality checks. Once approved, the missiles are prepared for deployment by the Indian armed forces.

Rajnath Singh praised the armed forces for their precision and preparedness, adding that India’s adversaries could no longer ignore the country’s capabilities. He highlighted that contracts worth approximately ₹4,000 crore had already been signed with two countries within a single month, projecting the Lucknow unit as a future knowledge hub in defence technology. “The turnover of BrahMos’ Lucknow unit will be around ₹3,000 crore from the next financial year, with GST collection reaching ₹5,000 crore annually,” he said.

Warning to Pakistan

Rajnath Singh’s address contained a strong message for Pakistan. “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,” he stated. He referred to Operation Sindoor as “just a trailer,” underlining that the demonstration had already conveyed India’s capabilities to its neighbour. “What happened in Operation Sindoor was just a trailer. But that trailer itself made Pakistan realise the extent of India’s strength,” he added.

Yogi Adityanath’s Remarks

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described the BrahMos initiative as a foundation for a self-reliant India. “So far, we have made over 2,500 acres of land available for defence projects in six nodes, providing employment to over 15,000 youth in the state,” he said. Highlighting the economic benefits, Adityanath noted the GST contribution from missile manufacturing, stating that annual revenue from GST alone could reach ₹150 to 200 crore once production scales up to 150 missiles per year.

Officials Present

The event saw the presence of Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, minister Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi, senior officials from BrahMos Aerospace, and other dignitaries. The inauguration of the missile batch marked a key milestone in India’s pursuit of self-reliance in defence technology and underscored the strategic significance of domestic missile production.

Looking Ahead

The Lucknow BrahMos unit is expected to become a major hub for defence manufacturing and research in the coming years, attracting international experts and contributing to both national security and the state economy. Singh and Adityanath jointly highlighted how such projects not only enhance India’s military preparedness but also create employment opportunities and strengthen the country’s position as a leader in advanced defence technology.