India used BrahMos in strikes against Pak: All about supersonic cruise missile

India Today

11-05-2025

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath confirmed on Sunday that a BrahMos missile was used in strikes against Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. He was speaking at the inauguration event of BrahMos Aerospace Integration and Testing Facility in Lucknow. The new facility will give a boost to India's defence capabilities."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," he said.advertisementWHAT IS BRAHMOS?BrahMos is a long-range supersonic cruise missile known for its high accuracy. It operates on 'Fire and Forget Principle', adopting a variety of flights on its way to the target. Its destructive power is enhanced due to large kinetic energy on impact.
The two-stage missile features a solid propellant booster in the first stage that propels it to supersonic speed before detaching. The second stage, a liquid ramjet engine, carries the missile to speeds nearing Mach 3 during the cruise phase.The missile, equipped with stealth technology and an advanced guidance system with embedded software, is designed for precision and survivability.BraHmos maintains a range of up to 290 km and supersonic velocity throughout its flight. It ensures reduced flight time, higher target accuracy, and minimal chances of interception by existing defense systems. advertisementIts high impact force is bolstered by significant kinetic energy, while it can cruise at altitudes of up to 15 km and strike as low as 10 meters. The missile carries a conventional warhead weighing between 200 and 300 kg.WHAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT BRAHMOS?BrahMos Capabilities:Range: Over 450 km (extended range variants up to 800 km reportedly tested)Speed: Supersonic (Mach 2.8–3.0), making interception highly difficultLaunch Platform: Air, land, sea, and submarine capable — the ALCM version is launched from Su-30MKIAccuracy: Near pinpoint precision with advanced guidance and navigationPayload: High-explosive warhead (200–300 kg), ideal for hardened targetsCompared to existing state-of-the-art subsonic cruise missiles, BraHmos has:3 times more velocity2.5 to 3 times more flight range3 to 4 times more seeker range9 times more kinetic energyBrahMos is the first supersonic cruise missile known to be in service. Induction of the first version of Brahmos weapon complex in the Indian Navy commenced from 2005 with INS Rajput as the first ship.The Indian Army has also inducted many BrahMos regiments since 2007. The IAF has successfully inducted BrahMos Air Launched Cruise Missile system armed with Sukhoi-30MKI frontline fighter aircraft.