Click to play videoNew Delhi:It is rare for an Indian Prime Minster to be seen publicly commending his missile scientists.
But when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited the BrahMos Aerospace complex in Delhi, he did just this.
While India has refrained from firing a 3,000-km-range ballistic missile that has been ready for two years now, the BrahMos is India's way of demonstrating its capability without rattling its sabre.
Unlike the formidable Agni, the Brahmos has a range of merely 290 km.
It's seen as a weapon which does not threaten the neighbourhood. But the message at the end of the Prime Minister's visit was heavy with military significance.
India is now ready to fire the Brahmos cruise missiles from submarines and this gives a quantum jump to the Indian military capability to launch a stealth attack.
An underwater missile platform is the most difficult to detect, giving it the sharpest edge in mounting a surprise attack.
Says CEO BrahMos, Dr S Pillai, "The BrahMos launch missile is ready as of today. We are ready. We have to only do the firing from underwater."
The Navy's confidence in the BrahMos cruise missile in reflected in its decision to arm all major warships and submarines in the future with this supersonic weapon.
The process of inducting the Brahmos on the Rajput class destroyers has already started.
It's destructive potential has been demonstrated by sinking a large ship within three minutes.
India's apparent success with the BrahMos has led to a Pakistani tit-for-tat race.
It sprung a surprise last year by firing the Babur, a cruise missile which resembles the Tomahawk.
What's worrying is Pakistan's declaration that the Babur is nuclear capable. For the record, India plays down the threat.
"This missile is not designed for nuclear capability," assures Dr Pillai.
While India is putting up a brave face, a race to acquire cruise missiles in the neighbourhood now seems likely.
And this contest could have implications for the stability of nuclear deterrence in the sub-continent.
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