BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile – India’s Precision Strike Asset

Syllabus: Science & Tech, Defence (UPSC GS III)
Source: The Print

Context

After the success of Operation Sindoor, the Indian Navy and Air Force are set for large-scale procurement of BrahMos missiles, citing their accuracy and combat effectiveness against Pakistani targets.

Overview

• BrahMos is a two-stage supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India’s DRDO and Russia’s NPOM.
• Speed: Mach 2.8–3.0 – fastest operational cruise missile in the world.
• Range: ~290 km (extended versions in development).
• Warhead: 200–300 kg (conventional).
• Launch Platforms: Land, air, sea, and sub-sea.

Key Features

• Fire-and-Forget: No guidance needed after launch.
• Stealth Design: Low radar signature for survivability.
• Flexible Trajectories: High, low, or mixed flight profiles.
• Kinetic Impact: 9× more kinetic energy than subsonic missiles.
• Pinpoint Accuracy: Effective even against moving targets.

Strategic Importance

• Successfully used in Operation Sindoor to destroy terrorist and military infrastructure inside Pakistan.
• Strengthens India’s deterrence and precision-strike capability.
• Promotes Atmanirbhar Bharat with significant indigenous components.

Current Deployment

• Navy: Rajput-class, Visakhapatnam-class destroyers, and Veer-class corvettes.
• Army: Multiple regiments with mobile launchers.
• Air Force: Integrated with Su-30 MKI, enabling deep-strike over land and sea.