NEW DELHI. Speaking at the programme “BrahMos at 25: A Playbook for India’s Strategic Self-Reliance,” organised by Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) and Adfactors PR, Dr. Ravindra Kumar Tyagi, former Chairman of Pawan Hans and former CMD of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), raised the question of whether India’s achievements so far represent sufficient progress or merely “satisfactory underperformance.” Addressing Session III, titled “From BrahMos to the Next Frontier: Scaling India’s Aerospace Ecosystem,” Dr. Tyagi stressed that India’s future priorities must include strengthening border defence, advancing theatre commands, and enhancing cyber warfare capabilities. He also highlighted the importance of narratives and the media’s role in shaping national discourse. Sharing the stage with industry leaders including Rajinder Singh Bhatia of Kalyani Strategic Systems, Maneck Behramkamdin of Godrej Aerospace, and Dr. Arun Ramchandani of SIDM and L&T, the discussion focused on the challenges and opportunities involved in scaling complex aerospace and defence programmes in India.
Recalling his tenure at HAL, Dr. Tyagi shared the experience of integrating the BrahMos missile with the Sukhoi-30 fleet, describing it as a defining example of institutional courage and leadership. Faced with competing cost estimates, HAL chose to back its own assessment and successfully completed the integration in less than two years. He noted that while technical capability is essential, leadership and the willingness to make difficult decisions are what ultimately drive national programmes forward. Reflecting on his experience as CMD of HAL, Chairman of Pawan Hans and now as an Independent Director, Dr. Tyagi observed that the gap between capable professionals and capable leadership often determines whether institutions progress or stagnate. He concluded that India’s pursuit of self-reliance is not only a technology challenge but also a leadership challenge, and congratulated BrahMos Aerospace, its CEO Jaiteerth R. Joshi, and VIF Director Arvind Gupta for their contributions to strengthening India’s strategic and technological capabilities over the past 25 years.
