Thiruvananthapuram: The BrahMos Aerospace Thiruvananthapuram Ltd (BATL) unit will be brought under the direct control of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), former Union Minister of State and BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar announced on Wednesday.

In a post shared on X, Chandrasekhar said, "A few weeks ago, I had brought the concerns regarding the delinking of BrahMos Aerospace Thiruvananthapuram (BATL) from its parent company to the authorities in the Ministry of Defence. The ministry has reassured me that BATL will be brought directly under the DRDO..."

“This move will bring BATL employees directly under the Government of India structure and align the unit with the #AtmaNirbharBharat mission, which was not feasible while functioning as a joint venture with a foreign partner,” he added.

BATL, currently a joint venture between the Indian and Russian governments, plays a critical role in India’s defence production ecosystem.

"This will bring the employees of BATL directly under the Government of India framework and be part of India's #AtmaNirbharBharat program, which was not possible working as a JV with a foreign firm. The Modi government will ensure that BATL unleashes its full potential, aligned with the nation's strategic interests, as well as safeguarding the interests of its employees," he said.