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The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, a product of Indo-Russian collaboration, stands as a testament to the advancements in defense technology and the strategic partnership between India and Russia. Developed through the BrahMos Aerospace joint venture, the missile has become a cornerstone of India's military arsenal, providing a formidable deterrent capability. The story of BrahMos is not just about a missile; it's a narrative of technological innovation, international cooperation, and the unwavering commitment to national security. The genesis of BrahMos can be traced back to the 1990s when Indian policymakers recognized the need to equip the armed forces with advanced cruise missiles. This realization was further reinforced by the successful deployment of cruise missiles during the 1991 Gulf War, which highlighted their precision and effectiveness in modern warfare. India's existing Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), spearheaded by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, had already laid a strong foundation with the development of ballistic missiles like the Agni series and other versatile missiles like Akash, Prithvi, and Nag. However, the need for a high-precision, supersonic cruise missile led to the exploration of international collaborations. Talks with Russia culminated in an Inter-Governmental Agreement signed in Moscow in February 1998 by Dr. Kalam, then head of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and N V Mikhailov, Russia's Deputy Defence Minister. This agreement paved the way for the formation of BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between the DRDO and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOM). The name BrahMos itself is a symbolic representation of the partnership, derived from the names of the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers. The joint venture was established with a clear mandate: to design, develop, and manufacture a supersonic, high-precision cruise missile and its variants. The shareholding structure reflects the collaborative nature of the project, with India holding a 50.5% share and Russia holding the remaining 49.5%. The first successful test of the BrahMos missile took place on June 12, 2001, at the Integrated Test Range, off the Chandipur coast of Odisha. This marked a significant milestone in the development of the missile and validated its design and capabilities. The BrahMos missile is a two-stage system, featuring a solid propellant booster engine and a liquid ramjet engine. The solid propellant booster accelerates the missile to supersonic speed, after which the first stage separates. The liquid ramjet engine then ignites, propelling the missile to three times the speed of sound during its cruise phase. The use of a liquid ramjet engine, an air-breathing jet engine that uses liquid fuel, allows the missile to maintain its high speed and maneuverability throughout its flight path. One of the key features of the BrahMos is its 'fire and forget' capability, meaning that it requires no further input or control after being launched. This allows the launch platform to disengage and avoid potential counterattacks. The missile also incorporates stealth features, such as a low radar cross-section (RCS) achieved through its compact design and the use of special materials. This makes it difficult for enemy radar systems to detect and track the missile. The BrahMos can achieve a cruising altitude of 15 kilometers and a terminal altitude as low as 10 meters, enabling it to strike targets with high precision and avoid enemy defenses. As a stand-off range weapon, the BrahMos can be launched from a distance sufficient to allow the attacker to evade defensive fire from the adversary. This capability significantly enhances the survivability of the launch platform and increases the effectiveness of the missile strike. The BrahMos family of missiles includes various versions tailored for different launch platforms, including land-based, ship-based, air-launched, and submarine-launched variants. This versatility makes it a valuable asset for all three branches of the Indian armed forces. Over the years, the BrahMos has undergone continuous development and upgrades, resulting in extended ranges and enhanced capabilities. The current versions can hit targets at a range of up to 350 kilometers, compared to the original range of 290 kilometers. Further development is underway to achieve even higher ranges of up to 800 kilometers and hypersonic speeds of up to five times the speed of sound. Compared to subsonic cruise missiles, the BrahMos boasts three times the speed, 2.5 times the flight range, and a higher seeker range, resulting in higher accuracy and nine times more kinetic energy. This makes it a significantly more effective weapon system. The operational deployment of BrahMos has been a phased approach, starting with the Indian Navy in 2005, followed by the Indian Army in 2007, and the Indian Air Force (IAF) with the Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter in 2017. The land-based version of the BrahMos is deployed in multiple units along India's land borders, providing a strong deterrent against potential adversaries. The naval version is deployed on frontline warships, enhancing the Indian Navy's ability to engage naval surface targets at long ranges. The air-launched version, integrated with the Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter, provides the IAF with a long-range strike capability against both land and sea-based targets. The submarine-launched version, launched from submerged platforms, adds another layer of strategic depth to India's nuclear deterrence. The development of the BrahMos-NG (Next Generation) is currently underway, focusing on reduced dimensions and weight, next-generation stealth features, greater effectiveness against electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM), higher versatility for underwater combat, and launch capability from a torpedo tube. This futuristic version will further enhance the capabilities of the BrahMos family of missiles and solidify its position as a leading cruise missile in the world.
The Indian Navy has been a key adopter of the BrahMos missile, integrating it onto its frontline warships. The guided missile destroyer INS Rajput was the first ship to deploy the BrahMos, and it has since been deployed on other warships, significantly enhancing their offensive capabilities. The naval version can be fired vertically or inclined, and from both moving and static naval platforms, providing flexibility in deployment and targeting. It has proven successful in both sea-to-sea and sea-to-land modes, making it a versatile weapon for naval operations. From ships, the BrahMos can be launched as a single unit or in a salvo of up to eight, separated by two-and-a-half-second-long intervals. These salvos can hit and destroy a group of frigates having modern missile defense systems, making the BrahMos a 'prime strike weapon' for such targets. The land-based system of the BrahMos consists of four to six mobile autonomous launchers, each with three missiles on board. These launchers can fire the missiles almost simultaneously on three different targets and in different configurations, providing a rapid and flexible response capability. The ground systems of BrahMos come with an air-conditioned cabin with Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) protection, ensuring the safety and operational readiness of the crew in hazardous environments. The land attack version of the BrahMos has a capability of cruising at 2.8 Mach speed and, following upgrades, can hit targets at a range of up to 400 kilometers with precision. The development of advanced versions with a range above 1,000 kilometers and a speed of up to 5 Mach is also in the pipeline. The missiles have been deployed in three different configurations: Block I with precision hitting capability, Block II with supersonic deep-dive and target discrimination capability, and Block III with mountain warfare capability, demonstrating its adaptability to different operational environments. The air-launched version of the BrahMos, the BrahMos Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM), is the heaviest missile to arm India's frontline fighter jet, the Sukhoi-30 MKI. This integration has significantly enhanced the IAF's long-range strike capabilities. In November 2017, the BrahMos was successfully flight-tested for the first time from the IAF frontline fighter aircraft against a sea-based target in the Bay of Bengal and has since been successfully tested multiple times. In tests conducted in 2019, BrahMos ALCM validated its land attack and anti-ship capability from large, stand-off ranges by day or night and in all weather conditions. BrahMos-equipped Sukhoi-30s, which have a range of 1,500 kilometers at a stretch without mid-air refueling, are considered a crucial deterrence for adversaries both along land borders and in the strategically important Indian Ocean Region. The submarine-launched version of the BrahMos can be launched from around 50 meters below the surface of the water. The canister-stored missile is launched vertically from the pressure hull of a submarine and uses different settings for underwater and out-of-the-water flights. This version was first successfully tested in March 2013 from a submerged platform off the coast of Visakhapatnam. This capability provides India with a potent underwater strike capability, further enhancing its naval power.
The BrahMos missile has not only strengthened India's defense capabilities but also fostered closer ties with Russia, demonstrating the success of the Indo-Russian strategic partnership. The joint venture model has proven to be highly effective, allowing both countries to leverage their respective strengths and expertise in the development of advanced defense technologies. The success of BrahMos has also inspired other countries to explore similar collaborations, highlighting the potential for international cooperation in the defense sector. The BrahMos missile serves as a symbol of India's growing technological prowess and its commitment to self-reliance in defense production. The continuous development and upgrades of the missile demonstrate India's ability to innovate and adapt to the evolving security landscape. The BrahMos has also played a crucial role in enhancing India's deterrence capabilities, sending a strong message to potential adversaries about the country's readiness to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The missile's high speed, precision, and versatility make it a formidable weapon system, capable of neutralizing a wide range of threats. In recent years, there have been reports suggesting that the BrahMos missile may have been used in combat situations, although these reports have not been officially confirmed. However, the mere possibility of its use has further enhanced its reputation as a highly effective and reliable weapon system. The BrahMos missile has also become a significant export item for India, with several countries expressing interest in acquiring the missile for their own defense needs. This has the potential to further strengthen India's position as a major player in the global defense market. The BrahMos missile is more than just a weapon system; it is a symbol of India's technological progress, strategic partnerships, and unwavering commitment to national security. Its development and deployment have significantly enhanced India's defense capabilities and contributed to the country's overall security and stability. As India continues to face evolving security challenges, the BrahMos missile will undoubtedly remain a crucial asset in its defense arsenal. The future of BrahMos looks promising, with ongoing development efforts focused on enhancing its range, speed, and stealth capabilities. The BrahMos-NG, with its reduced dimensions and weight, next-generation stealth features, and higher versatility for underwater combat, is expected to further solidify its position as a leading cruise missile in the world. The success of BrahMos serves as an inspiration for India's defense industry to continue innovating and developing advanced technologies that can contribute to the country's security and prosperity. The missile is a testament to the vision and leadership of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, who played a pivotal role in its development and the establishment of the Indo-Russian joint venture. The BrahMos missile is a remarkable achievement in defense technology, a symbol of international cooperation, and a crucial asset for India's national security. Its story is one of innovation, perseverance, and the unwavering commitment to safeguarding the nation's borders.
Source: Story of BrahMos: the ‘fire and forget’, stealthy cruise missile India likely used against Pakistan