The BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile developed by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya. Named after the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers, it is one of the world’s fastest and most versatile cruise missiles, designed for precision strikes across multiple platforms.
BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile – Key Details, Features, Significance
BrahMos Missile – General Specifications
| Specification Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Type | Supersonic cruise missile designed for rapid, high-precision strikes across multiple platforms. |
| Speed | Mach 2.8–3.0 (3,400–3,700 km/h), rendering it nearly impossible to intercept due to its high velocity. |
| Range | Standard: Up to 290 km (export version, compliant with MTCR). Extended: Up to 450–600 km (Indian variants after India’s 2016 MTCR entry). |
| Warhead | 200–300 kg, carrying conventional payloads such as high-explosive or submunition warheads for diverse targets. |
| Weight | Approximately 2,500 kg for air/land-launched versions; 2,000 kg for ship/submarine-launched variants. |
| Length | Measures about 8.4 meters, optimized for deployment from multiple launch platforms. |
| Diameter | Roughly 0.6 meters, contributing to its aerodynamic efficiency and speed. |
| Guidance | Utilizes Inertial Navigation System (INS), GPS/GLONASS, and active/passive radar homing for terminal phase, with mid-course updates for enhanced accuracy. |
| Accuracy | Achieves a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of 1–3 meters, enabling pinpoint strikes on high-value targets. |
BrahMos – Variants and Platforms
Land-Launched:
- Mobile Autonomous Launchers (MAL) with 3–4 missiles per unit.
- Deployed with Indian Army’s BrahMos regiments (Block I, II, III).
Sea-Launched:
- Ship-based: Vertical Launch Systems (VLS) on Indian Navy destroyers (e.g., Kolkata-class), frigates (e.g., Talwar-class), and corvettes.
- Submarine-launched: Torpedo-tube compatible; tested from INS Chakra.
Air-Launched:
- Integrated on Su-30 MKI fighters (40 aircraft modified by HAL).
- First successful test: November 2017; lighter variant (~2,000 kg) used.
Under Development:
- BrahMos-NG (Next Generation): Smaller, lighter (1,500 kg), 290 km range, for platforms like MiG-29, Tejas, and submarines.
- BrahMos-II (Hypersonic): Targeting Mach 7–8, range ~600 km; in early development, leveraging Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) tech.
BrahMos Missile – Operational Features
- Multi-Platform Capability: Launched from land, sea, air, and underwater, offering operational flexibility.
- Stealth and Maneuverability: Low radar cross-section, sea-skimming (5–10 m altitude), and S-maneuvers evade air defenses.
- Fire-and-Forget: Autonomous after launch, reducing operator exposure.
- All-Weather, Day/Night: Operates in diverse conditions, enhancing reliability.
- Targets: Effective against ships, bunkers, airfields, and infrastructure; coastal and inland strike capability.
BrahMos Missile – Development and Milestones
- Origin: Indo-Russian collaboration formalized in 1998; first test in 2001.
- Indigenization: Over 65% components (as of 2025) made in India, including seekers, boosters, and airframes, reducing reliance on Russia.
Key Tests:
- 2017: Air-launched success from Su-30 MKI.
- 2020–2021: Extended-range (400+ km) and anti-ship variants tested.
- 2024: BrahMos-NG prototype trials initiated.
- Export: Philippines signed $375 million deal in 2022 for shore-based systems; interest from Vietnam, Indonesia, and others.
Strategic Significance
- Deterrence: Enhances India’s precision-strike capability against naval and land targets, countering threats in the Indo-Pacific.
- Maritime Security: Strengthens Indian Navy’s anti-ship and coastal defence roles, critical for Indian Ocean Region (IOR) dominance.
- Aatmanirbhar Bharat: Indigenous production by BEL, L&T, and Godrej supports India’s defence ecosystem and MSMEs.
- Economic Impact: Export orders boost India’s defence industry, with BrahMos Aerospace targeting $5 billion in exports by 2030.
BrahMos Recent Updates (2024–2025)
- Production Boost: New facility in Lucknow to produce 100 missiles annually; Kanpur and Nagpur units expanding.
- Naval Integration: Universal Vertical Launch Modules deployed on INS Visakhapatnam and INS Surat.
- Export Push: Showcased at LAAD 2025; talks with ASEAN and Middle Eastern nations ongoing.
- BrahMos-NG Progress: Scaled-down model tested for aerodynamics; integration planned for smaller platforms by 2028.
BrahMos Missile – Challenges
- Cost: High per-unit cost (~$3–4 million) limits mass deployment compared to subsonic missiles.
- Hypersonic Leap: BrahMos-II faces technical hurdles in materials and propulsion, delaying timelines.
- Export Restrictions: MTCR compliance caps range for non-members, though India’s membership eases some constraints.
Context with Indian Navy
BrahMos is a cornerstone of India’s naval strategy, equipping ships like INS Sunayna’s class (though not OPVs directly) and destroyers for SAGAR missions. Its deployment enhances India’s maritime deterrence, supporting cooperative security in the IOR.
Recent BrahMos News
| News Date | Title and Description |
|---|---|
| 17 Apr 2025 | Vietnam Set to Acquire BrahMos Missiles from India After Philippines Vietnam is expected to finalize a $700 million (₹5,990 crore) deal for BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, enhancing its maritime defence against South China Sea tensions. The agreement strengthens India-Vietnam military ties. |
| 27 Jan 2025 | India Inks ₹3,800 Crore BrahMos Missile Deal with Indonesia India secured a $450 million deal to export BrahMos missiles to Indonesia, the second ASEAN buyer after the Philippines. The agreement, facilitated by technology transfer talks, bolsters Indonesia’s coastal defence. |
| 19 Apr 2024 | India Delivers First Batch of BrahMos Missiles to Philippines India supplied three batteries of shore-based anti-ship BrahMos missiles to the Philippines under a $375 million deal signed in 2022, marking its first major missile export to counter regional threats. |
| 25 Aug 2018 | DAC Approves Procurement for Services Amounting to Nearly ₹46,000 Crores Sanctioned anti-ship missiles and frigates for Navy, boosting indigenous production of BrahMos systems, enabling exports to countries like the Philippines and potentially Indonesia. |