NEW DELHI, Aug 26: India has commenced production of the Russian-designed 290-kilometre-range Brahmos supersonic cruise missiles for induction by the Indian Navy next year, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee told parliament on Thursday.

"The Navy has placed a letter of interest for inducting Brahmos supersonic cruise missiles in certain types of ships and in shore. Production has commenced for induction in 2005," Mr Mukherjee said in reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

The missile can be launched from submarine, ship, aircraft and land-based mobile autonomous launchers. The missile is launched from a transport-launch canister, which also acts as storage and transportation container.

Primarily, it is an anti-ship missile. It has the capability to engage land-based targets also. The missile can be launched either in a vertical or inclined position and will cover 360 degrees.

Mr Mukherjee said there was no equivalent to Brahmos missile in any other country as it would enhance the Indian Navy's fire-power multiple times and gave it the competitive advantage in warfare.

After a series of successful flight trials from ship and land the missile had proved its accuracy against ship targets with devastating destruction capability, he added.

Mr Mukherjee also told the Lok Sabha that a number of important defence projects, including the one for the light combat aircraft 'Tejas', had suffered delays due to sanctions imposed by the US and other countries after the 1998 nuclear tests, which still remain partially in force.

"Important projects and programmes of defence research and development organisation suffered delay due to the sanctions," he said. The projects thus delayed were Tejas-Light Combat Aircraft Development Programme, including its indigenous Kaveri engine development, Electronic Warfare Programme for Army and Navy and Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicle.

"The sanctions still remain partially in force," Mr Mukherjee said, adding that steps taken by the government to overcome the handicap included a greater thrust in research and indigenous development of components, materials and sub-systems.