BrahMos used in Operation Sindoor against Pakistan: What we know about India's fastest cruise missile
India's BrahMos supersonic cruise missile has taken centre stage amid rising India-Pakistan tensions. Precision strikes launched on May 10 reportedly involved the BrahMos cruise missile. The missile, jointly developed by India and Russia, offers high speed, low radar detection, and pinpoint accuracy. With a range of up to 290 km in its standard version and advanced variants exceeding 800 km, BrahMos has emerged as a core asset in India's arsenal. Officials say it signals India's intent to defend decisively.
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"Just ask Pakistan": Yogi Adityanath on BrahMos power
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What is BrahMos and how does it work?
BrahMos by the numbers
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3x velocity
2.5–3x range
3–4x seeker range
9x kinetic energy on impact
Deployment timeline and variants
BrahMos Extended Range: Up to 1,500 km range
BrahMos-II Hypersonic: Designed to cruise at Mach 8
BrahMos-NG (Next Gen): A lighter version suitable for multiple platforms
Strategic implications
India's BrahMos supersonic cruise missile may have been used for the first time in live combat during precision strikes on Pakistani military facilities early on Saturday, 10 May. As reported by The Indian Express, the Indian Air Force targeted several strategic locations deep inside Pakistan in retaliation to attempted airspace violations.The targeted bases included Rafiqui, Murid, Nur Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, and Chunian. Additional damage was reported at Skardu, Bholari, Jacobabad, and Sargodha airfields. Radar sites at Pasrur and Sialkot were also hit. Though there is no formal confirmation from the defence ministry, multiple reports suggest that the BrahMos missile was likely among the systems deployed alongside SCALP and HAMMER munitions.During a press briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri underlined that India remains committed to 'non-escalation', provided that Pakistan shows similar restraint. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi added that Pakistan's attacks on a healthcare centre and school premises in Srinagar, Avantipur, and Udhampur violated international norms. Indian officials dismissed claims from Islamabad about damage to Indian installations as 'malicious misinformation,' displaying time-stamped photos of Sirsa and Suratgarh bases to support their statement.While inaugurating the BrahMos Aerospace Integration and Testing Facility in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath acknowledged the missile's likely use in the weekend operation. He remarked, 'You must have seen a glimpse of the BrahMos missile during Operation Sindoor. If you didn't, then just ask the people of Pakistan about the power of the BrahMos missile.'The newly opened facility is expected to significantly boost India's defence manufacturing capacity and accelerate delivery timelines for new BrahMos systems.The BrahMos missile is a two-stage weapon developed jointly by India's DRDO and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyenia. Its name is a blend of two rivers — India's Brahmaputra and Russia's Moskva — symbolising the Indo-Russian partnership.The missile launches with a solid-fuel booster which detaches after take-off. A liquid-fuelled ramjet engine then propels it at speeds approaching Mach 3. It can cruise at altitudes of up to 15 km and strike as low as 10 metres above the ground.It is designed to follow a "fire and forget" principle — once launched, no further guidance is required. The missile's low radar signature and high kinetic energy make it especially difficult to intercept.Standard BrahMos missiles have a range of 290 km. However, recent trials have successfully tested extended range versions exceeding 450 km and reportedly up to 800 km. Some future variants aim to strike targets as far as 1,500 km away.Payload capacity ranges between 200 to 300 kilograms of conventional high-explosive warheads. The missile can be launched from air, land, sea, and underwater platforms.Compared to subsonic cruise missiles, BrahMos delivers:BrahMos was first tested on 12 June 2001. The Indian Navy inducted its first BrahMos system in 2005 aboard INS Rajput. The Indian Army followed in 2007 with its own regiments, and the Air Force later introduced an air-launched version from the Sukhoi-30MKI aircraft.As of 2025, two primary variants are in service: BrahMos Block I and BrahMos Air-Launched. Three more advanced variants are in development:Each unit reportedly costs around ₹34 crore, with an estimated ₹300 crore required to set up a production unit.If confirmed, the May 10 strikes would mark the BrahMos missile's combat debut — a significant shift in India's approach to regional threats. Its use underlines the country's readiness to employ advanced strategic assets when provoked.While New Delhi continues to signal diplomatic caution, the message from the BrahMos launch is clear: India's defence strategy is no longer limited to deterrence.
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