Why in news?
After the success of Operation Sindoor in 2025, the Indian Navy and Air Force announced plans to procure larger numbers of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, citing its precision against Pakistani targets.
What is BrahMos?
BrahMos is a two‑stage supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mash. Named after the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers, it is the world’s fastest operational cruise missile, travelling at nearly three times the speed of sound (Mach 2.8–3).
Key specifications
- Range: around 290 km; extended‑range versions are under development.
- Warhead: carries a 200–300 kg conventional explosive.
- Speed: remains supersonic throughout its flight, reducing the enemy’s response time.
- Platforms: can be launched from land‑based mobile launchers, naval ships, submarines and aircraft.
Special features
- Fire‑and‑forget: after launch, the missile does not require further guidance.
- Stealthy design: low radar signature makes detection difficult.
- Flexible trajectories: can fly high, low or in a mixed profile, increasing survivability.
- High kinetic energy: its high speed gives it nine times more kinetic punch than subsonic missiles.
- Pin‑point accuracy: its advanced guidance system provides high hit probability.
Operational status
- Navy: Deployed on Rajput‑ and Visakhapatnam‑class destroyers and Veer‑class corvettes.
- Army: Several regiments operate mobile land‑based BrahMos batteries.
- Air Force: Integrated onto Su‑30 MKI fighters, giving them long‑range strike capability against land and sea targets.
Significance: BrahMos gives India a credible precision‑strike option across land, sea and air. Its export to the Philippines in 2024 made Manila the first foreign operator, signalling India’s emergence as a defence exporter.