BrahMos: India exports ‘Brahmastra’ missile to Philippines! What’s special about world’s ‘fastest supersonic cruise missile’? Top facts

BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles exported! In a big boost to India’s defence exports, India recently delivered the first batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to Philippines, amidst heightened tensions between the latter and China. The $375 million contract for three anti-ship BrahMos coastal batteries was inked in January 2022. So what’s special about the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile? The lethal missile has become a frontline weapon for all armed services - Indian Army, Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force. We take a look at some astounding facts about the BrahMos missile that make it a formidable weapon - it’s been described as a ‘Brahmastra’ by the Chief of Defence Staff!

BrahMos Missile Speed: BrahMos missiles, made by BrahMos Aerospace which is a joint venture between India and Russia, are manufactured in India and have a speed of Mach 2.8, which is almost three times the speed of sound. It is said to be the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile.

BrahMos Missile Range: BrahMos missile can be launched from land, sea, sub-sea and air. It is a precision strike weapon with a range of 290 kilometres (450-500 kilometres for the upgraded version) and cruises at altitudes varying from 10m to 15 km.

BrahMos Missile Name: The BrahMos missile operates on a ‘fire-and-forget’ principle - it doesn’t require further guidance after launch. It has a low radar signature, making it difficult for enemies to track weapon when fired. BrahMos derives its name from two rivers, one Indian - the Brahmaputra - and the other Russian - Moskva.

BrahMos missiles have become the prime conventional precision-strike weapon for the Indian armed forces, with contracts worth over Rs 38,000 crore already signed over the years. Furthermore, an 800-km variant of the BrahMos missile is currently under development, as previously reported by TOI.

BrahMos supersonic missile: According to Atul Dinkar Rane, the MD and CEO of BrahMos Aerospace, the BrahMos supersonic missile has no equivalent in the world today. “Today it's a frontline weapon on all the three arms, Navy, Army, Air Force, in that order. And proudly, we can say that India is the only country with a single missile with the three forces, a triad of a supersonic missile,” Rane had told TOI in an interview last year.

The Indian Navy has equipped nearly 15 of its frontline warships with BrahMos missiles, including the latest destroyers such as "INS Visakhapatnam, INS Mormugao and INS Imphal." Future destroyers and frigates will also be armed with these missiles, including the seven stealth frigates being built under Project-17A at a total cost of Rs 45,000 crore, which are expected to be delivered between 2024 and 2026.

BrahMos on Su-30MKI: The Indian Air Force is also planning to equip an additional 20-25 Sukhoi-30MKI fighters with the BrahMos missile, after already modifying an initial batch of 40 jets to carry the weapon. These BrahMos-equipped Sukhois can conduct long-range strikes against high-value targets, including enemy warships, positions, bunkers, and command-and-control centers.

The Indian Army also intends to acquire additional BrahMos regiments. Some of these BrahMos batteries are presently deployed in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, due to the ongoing military standoff with China, which has lasted for nearly four years.

BrahMos deal: The Cabinet Committee on Security recently approved four significant defence deals, amounting to approximately Rs 35,000 crore, to enhance the combat capabilities of the Indian armed forces. Among these deals, the largest contract was for the acquisition of over 220 extended-range BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, with a strike range of 450-km, to equip the Navy's frontline warships. The contract is valued at nearly Rs 19,500 crore.

The new Rs 19,500 crore contract is the first consolidated order for the extended-range BrahMos missiles. Till now, upgrades of the existing 290-km range missiles were being done only when the warships came in for refits or maintenance.