Brahmos buys plant for missile-making

MOSCOW, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- A Russian-Indian joint venture bought a manufacturing facility in India so it can double production of its supersonic cruise missiles, the company said.

BrahMos bought the plant from state-run Kerala Hightech Industries, allowing BrahMos to increase its annual missile production to 50, RIA-Novosti reported Monday.

India's representation in the joint venture, Defense Research and Development Organization, will invest roughly $25 million in the plant during the next two years, while the Indian Space Research Organization will put up $6 million, the Russian information agency said.

Besides assembling BrahMos missiles, officials said the facility will make components for the ISRO-produced Astra rockets.