BrahMos: India's Supersonic Missile Revolution

Why in the NEWS?

• The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was possibly used for the first time in a combat situation during Operation Sindoor.
• As part of retaliatory precision strikes on Pakistani military targets, the Indian armed forces also used missiles such as HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range), air-to-surface precision-guided munition and the air-launched cruise missile SCALP.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, while virtually inaugurating the BrahMos Integration and Test Facility Centre in Lucknow, said the missile is a confluence of top defence technologies from India and Russia.

What is BrahMos? The ‘fire and forget’, stealthy cruise missile.

• BrahMom land, air, sea, and even underwater platforms, making it one of the most versatile weapons in India's defence arsenal.

Why was BrahMos developed?

• The idea for BrahMos emerged in the 1990s, when India realized the need for high-speed precision weapons after watching the effectiveness of cruise missiles like the Tomahawk during the 1991 Gulf War.
• Before this, India’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), led by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, had developed missile families such as:
• Agni (ballistic missile),
• Prithvi (short-range ballistic missile),
• Akash (surface-to-air missile),
• Nag (anti-tank missile).
• However, India lacked a supersonic cruise missile, which could:
• Strike targets at stand-off ranges,
• Evade radar and enemy air defences,
• Provide rapid response capability.
• This led to discussions with Russia, resulting in a joint venture.

The India-Russia Partnership

• In February 1998, India’s DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia signed an agreement to develop a new missile together. 
• Thus was born BrahMos Aerospace, a company jointly owned:
  • India: 50.5%
  • Russia: 49.5%
• The goal was to create a supersonic cruise missile that:
• Was highly accurate,
• Capable of multiple platform launches,
• Could operate in all weather conditions.

Technical Structure of BrahMos

• BrahMos is a two-stage missile:

Stage 1 – Solid-fuel Booster

• Launches the missile at supersonic speed,
• Separates after initial acceleration.

Stage 2 – Liquid-fuel Ramjet

• A ramjet engine sustains supersonic cruise speed,
• Uses atmospheric oxygen, reducing fuel load and increasing efficiency.

Key Capabilities

• Speed: Mach 2.8 – Mach 3 (3x the speed of sound)
• Range:
  • Original: 290 km (due to MTCR limits)
  • Now extended to 450 km and being developed for 800+ km.
  • Accuracy: Near pinpoint precision
  • Altitude: Flies as low as 10 meters in terminal phase
  • Radar signature: Low due to stealth design and materials
  • Payload: Up to 300 kg (conventional warhead)

Operational Use and Strategic Impact

Reported use in Operation Sindoor (May 2025)

• According to reports, India possibly used BrahMos for the first time in an actual combat scenario during Operation Sindoor, as part of retaliatory strikes against terror infrastructure in Pakistan. 
• If confirmed, this would be a historic first use in active conflict for a missile that had, until now, only been tested and deployed as a deterrent.

Variants of BrahMos: A Platform-Agnostic Missile

• BrahMos is designed to be launched from land, sea, air, and underwater, and multiple versions have already been inducted.

Ship-Launched Version (Navy)

• First inducted in 2005.
• Can be launched vertically or inclined.
• Attacks both sea and land targets.
• First deployed on INS Rajput, later on other destroyers and frigates.

Land-Launched Version (Army)

• Inducted in 2007.
• Comes with Mobile Autonomous Launchers (MALs).
• Each launcher can fire 3 missiles simultaneously at separate targets.
• Deployed along India’s borders (e.g., Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh).
• Configurations
  • Block I: High precision targeting
  • Block II: Deep dive capability for hardened targets
  • Block III: Designed for mountain warfare

Air-Launched Version (Air Force)

• Integrated with Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets.
• Successfully tested in 2017 and 2019 over the Bay of Bengal.
• Gives India deep-strike capability from air.
• Modified Sukhoi can carry 1 BrahMos missile and strike from stand-off ranges.

Submarine-Launched Version

• First tested in March 2013.
• Launched from submerged platforms, later to be launched from submarines like the INS Arihant class.
• Extends India's second-strike nuclear capability.

Future Developments: BrahMos-NG and Hypersonic Plans

BrahMos-NG (Next Generation)

• Lighter and smaller than original BrahMos.
• Can be carried by smaller aircraft like Tejas.
• Has improved stealth, manoeuvrability, and ECCM (Electronic Counter-Counter Measures).
• Launchable from torpedo tubes.

BrahMos-II (Hypersonic)

• Under development.
• Planned speed: Mach 7 (hypersonic)
• Would greatly reduce enemy reaction time.
• Competes with weapons like Russia’s Zircon and China’s DF-17.

India’s Global Edge and Exports

• India has started exporting BrahMos:
• In 2022, the Philippines became the first buyer of BrahMos systems.
• Talks ongoing with Vietnam, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and other Southeast Asian nations.
• BrahMos is helping India emerge as a defence exporter, boosting its influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Why BrahMos is a Game-Changer?

1. Speed: Far faster than subsonic cruise missiles like the U.S. Tomahawk.
2. Precision: Near pinpoint accuracy, making it effective against high-value targets.
3. Versatility: Can be launched from air, land, sea, and underwater.
4. Deterrence: Forms a core part of India's strategic deterrence.
5. Export Potential: Boosts India’s defence diplomacy.

Subsonic vs Supersonic vs Hypersonic Missiles

CRUISE AND BALLISTIC MISSILE

• Cruise missiles and ballistic missiles are both advanced weapon systems used in military operations, but they differ significantly in terms of design, operation, and application.

Cruise Missiles

• A cruise missile is a guided missile that flies at a relatively low altitude and uses a jet engine for sustained flight. 
• It follows a programmed path towards its target.

Flight Path:

• Cruise missiles fly at low altitudes (within Earth's atmosphere), often following terrain to avoid detection by radar. 
• They are highly manoeuvrable and can change their trajectory mid-flight.

Speed:

• Cruise missiles can be subsonic (~0.8 Mach), supersonic (~2-3 Mach), or hypersonic (greater than 5 Mach).

Payload:

• Typically, they carry smaller, single warheads (either conventional or nuclear).

Detection and Interception:

• They are hard to detect due to their low altitude and smaller radar cross-section, but once detected, interception is relatively easier compared to ballistic missiles.

Examples:

• BrahMos missile (a supersonic cruise missile developed by India and Russia) is an example of a widely known cruise missile.
• Tomahawk missile (a subsonic, long-range cruise missile used by the U.S. Navy) is another example.

Advantages:

• Precision targeting and flexibility due to the ability to adjust flight paths.
• Can be launched from multiple platforms (land, sea, or air).

Disadvantages:

• Lower speed and range compared to ballistic missiles.
• Easier to intercept once detected.

Ballistic Missiles

• A ballistic missile is a missile that follows a ballistic trajectory, which involves a high-speed ascent to a high altitude followed by a free-fall descent to the target. 
• It is powered by rockets during the initial launch phase, then travels unpowered through space or upper atmosphere.

Flight Path:

• Ballistic missiles follow a parabolic or ballistic trajectory, with a high upward trajectory before descending back to Earth. 
• Once they leave the atmosphere, they re-enter to strike the target.

Speed:

• Ballistic missiles travel at extremely high speeds and cover long distances. 
• They can achieve hypersonic speeds (greater than 5 Mach).

Payload:

• Larger payloads, including multiple warheads (MIRVs – Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles), are carried by ballistic missiles. 
• These warheads can be conventional or nuclear.

Detection and Interception:

• Ballistic missiles are easier to detect due to their high-altitude flight path, but they are difficult to intercept because of their high speed and re-entry into the atmosphere.

Examples:

• Prithvi and Agni missiles (used by India) are examples of short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles.
• ICBMs (Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles) are long-range missiles capable of traveling over 5,500 kilometres and are capable of delivering nuclear warheads.

Advantages:

• Long-range capability and ability to carry larger payloads.
• Harder to intercept due to speed and trajectory.

Disadvantages:

• Easier to detect during launch, and their predictable flight path makes it more vulnerable to interception, although still challenging.
• Not as manoeuvrable or precise as cruise missiles.