Latest news with #BrahMos-II
India Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
After BrahMos's Op Sindoor success, India ramps up hypersonic missile development
India is set to fast-track the development of its next-generation hypersonic cruise missile, BrahMos-II, following the success of BrahMos strikes on Pakistan's terror and military infrastructure during Operation Sindoor last decision marked a significant leap in the country's missile programme and came on the back of notable progress in indigenous scramjet engine technology by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).advertisementBrahMos-II, being developed as a joint venture between India and Russia under BrahMos Aerospace, is designed to reach speeds of Mach 6 to Mach 8 — six to eight times the speed of sound — with a strike range of up to 1,500 kilometres. Defence sources told India Today TV that high-level consultations between the two nations on the joint development of this hypersonic system are expected to resume shortly. The missile will be powered by a scramjet engine, an upgrade over the current BrahMos missile's ramjet propulsion system. The design of BrahMos-II is reportedly inspired by Russia's 3M22 Zircon, a scramjet-powered missile already inducted into the Russian Navy and capable of reaching speeds of Mach announced in 2008, the BrahMos-II programme faced several roadblocks, including restrictions under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), which initially prevented Russia from sharing technologies with ranges exceeding 300 km. These hurdles were eased after India joined the MTCR in 2016. However, technological challenges and high costs also contributed to revival of the programme came amid intensifying global competition in hypersonic weaponry, with India now seeking to strengthen its strategic defence posture through enhanced Indo-Russian the BrahMos missile — inducted into all three wings of the Indian Armed Forces — is the world's fastest operational supersonic cruise missile, flying at Mach 3.5 with a strike range between 290 and 800 kilometres. The missile played a pivotal role in Operation Sindoor, where it successfully neutralised all intended targets using its fire-and-forget Projected CapabilitiesSpeed: Estimated between Mach 6 to Mach 8Range: Up to 1,500 kmEngine: Scramjet propulsionDesign influence: Based on Russia's 3M22 ZirconWeight: Approx. 1.33 tonnes (half the weight of the BrahMos-A air-launched variant)Platform compatibility: Expected to be integrated with India's LCA Tejas Mk 2In a key milestone, DRDO in April 2025 successfully tested the scramjet combustor for over 1,000 seconds — a breakthrough that signalled India's readiness to enter the hypersonic missile league.
India.com
20-05-2025
- Business
- India.com
BrahMos-II: India's Hypersonic Dagger ready to pierce the future
Home News BrahMos-II: India's Hypersonic Dagger ready to pierce the future BrahMos-II: India's Hypersonic Dagger ready to pierce the future As a nation historically reliant on foreign technology, India's push for self-reliance through BrahMos-II is a matter of pride and strategic necessity. India is on the verge of a game-changing moment in defense technology with the BrahMos-II, a hypersonic cruise missile aiming for speeds of Mach 7 to Mach 8—seven to eight times the speed of sound. This isn't just a missile; it's a bold statement of India's growing prowess in cutting-edge weaponry, powered by a homegrown scramjet engine. At a recent summit, Dr. Sudhir Kumar Mishra, former head of India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and BrahMos Aerospace, revealed a major milestone: a 1,000-second ground test of a scramjet engine combustor, conducted on April 25, 2025. This breakthrough puts India shoulder-to-shoulder with global powers like the U.S., Russia, and China in the hypersonic race. As a nation historically reliant on foreign technology, India's push for self-reliance through BrahMos-II is a matter of pride and strategic necessity. This missile, expected to outpace its predecessor—the already formidable BrahMos, which zips at Mach 3.5—promises to be a global disruptor. But what makes this technology so special, and why should every Indian care? Let's break it down. Ramjet vs. Scramjet: The Engines Powering the Future To understand the hype around BrahMos-II, we need to talk about the engines behind it: ramjets and scramjets. Imagine a regular jet engine, like those on a passenger plane. It sucks in air, compresses it, mixes it with fuel, and ignites it to create thrust. Now, picture a ramjet, which is like a jet engine on steroids, designed for high speeds. It doesn't have moving parts like fans or compressors. Instead, it uses the sheer force of speeding through the air to compress it before burning fuel. Ramjets work well at supersonic speeds (above Mach 1), but they struggle beyond Mach 5. Enter the scramjet—short for 'supersonic combustion ramjet.' This is the rockstar of engines for hypersonic speeds (Mach 5 and above). Unlike a ramjet, which slows down incoming air to subsonic speeds before burning it, a scramjet keeps the air moving supersonically even during combustion. This is incredibly tricky because air is rushing through at thousands of kilometers per hour, and you've got to ignite fuel in a split second. It's like lighting a match in a hurricane. Scramjets are lighter, more efficient, and capable of pushing vehicles to mind-boggling speeds, making them perfect for hypersonic missiles like BrahMos-II. Why BrahMos-II Matters The BrahMos-II isn't just about speed; it's about rewriting the rules of warfare. At Mach 7-8, it could travel 1,500 kilometers, striking targets with pinpoint accuracy before enemies have time to react. Current defense systems struggle to intercept missiles this fast, making BrahMos-II a potential game-changer in conflicts. Its predecessor, the BrahMos, is already the world's fastest supersonic cruise missile, trusted by the Indian Armed Forces and even exported to allies like the Philippines. With over 130 successful tests, the BrahMos program has earned a reputation for reliability, unlike cheaper but less dependable alternatives. The recent 1,000-second scramjet test in Hyderabad is a big deal. Conducted by DRDO's Defence Research & Development Laboratory, it's reportedly the longest scramjet test ever, surpassing the U.S.'s X-51A Waverider, which flew for 240 seconds. This test proved India's scramjet can handle the extreme heat and stress of hypersonic flight, thanks to advanced cooling techniques, special ceramic coatings, and a unique fuel developed with Indian industries. These innovations mean India isn't just copying others—it's setting new benchmarks. A Strategic Power Play India's hypersonic ambitions are more than technological flexing; they're a strategic necessity. In a world where China and Pakistan are advancing their missile capabilities, BrahMos-II could tilt the balance in India's favor. Social media buzz on platforms like X suggests the missile could be ready in four years, offering a deterrent that's hard to match. Unlike Russia's Zircon missile, which may inspire BrahMos-II, India's version will rely on its own scramjet tech, reducing dependence on foreign suppliers—a key pillar of the 'Make in India' vision. This push for self-reliance isn't just about defense; it's about global clout. Countries choosing BrahMos over competitors show trust in India's engineering. With orders for over 200 air-launched BrahMos-A missiles for the Indian Air Force and 220 for the Navy, the program is a cornerstone of India's military might. BrahMos-II could take this legacy further, fulfilling the dream of former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam for India to lead in hypersonic technology. The Road Ahead India's hypersonic journey isn't without challenges. Developing scramjets requires mastering materials that can survive blistering temperatures and ensuring stable combustion at extreme speeds. Yet, DRDO's recent test shows India is on the right track. The government must now double down on funding and collaboration with private industries to keep the momentum going. Delays or budget cuts could risk falling behind in the global race. BrahMos-II is more than a missile; it's a symbol of India's ambition to be a global superpower. It's about proving that a nation once underestimated can now set the pace in cutting-edge technology. As Dr. Mishra said, India doesn't settle for second-best—it builds the best. With BrahMos-II, India is not just catching up; it's aiming to lead. The world should take notice. ——- E.O.M ( Girish Linganna is an award-winning science communicator and a Defence, Aerospace & Geopolitical Analyst. He is the Managing Director of ADD Engineering Components India Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. Contact: girishlinganna@ ) For breaking news and live news updates, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Read more on Latest India News on More Stories
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Sindoor, a made-in-India arms story
File photo As the dust settles after Operation Sindoor, directed against Pakistan and terror actors on its soil, what is becoming clear is the resounding success of India's nascent defence industry. It is believed India used BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and other precision-strike weapons to inflict damage to terror bases and military installations deep inside Pakistan. Indian armed forces also deployed indigenous Akash air defence missiles and D4 anti-drone systems to repel wave after wave of Pakistani aerial strikes, letting very little pass through. 'During this operation, the credibility of our Made-in-India weapons was firmly established. The world now recognises that the time for Made-in-India defence equipment in 21st-century warfare has arrived,' PM Narendra Modi said on May 12 in his address to the nation after Operation Sindoor's success. For the past several years, the govt has been pushing to maximise acquisition of defence equipment through indigenous sources and promote domestic manufacturing to reduce dependence on foreign-origin weapons as part of its flagship 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' programme. Parallelly, India's defence exports reached a record high of Rs 23,622 crore in 2024-25, a 12% surge over the previous year. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like AI guru Andrew Ng recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around in 2025 Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo The might of BrahMos BrahMos (the name represents two rivers: the Indian Brahmaputra and Moskva of Russia) flies at a speed of Mach 2.8, or almost three times the speed of sound, and is considered to be one of the world's fastest supersonic cruise missiles. It is produced by BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd, a Delhi-based joint venture between Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyeniya or NPOM. BrahMos can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms. India has successfully tested all variants of BrahMos and inducted the missile system into its military years ago. In 2019, the range of this home-grown missile was enhanced up to 450km with a top official then saying, 'India is now the only country in the world to integrate long-range missiles into fighter jets [Sukhoi 30]'. India recently exported these missiles to the Philippines as part of a $375 million deal signed in 2022. Efforts are also on to develop a hypersonic version of the missile, tentatively named BrahMos-II. According to the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between New Delhi and Moscow, BrahMos-II will be based on a hypersonic scramjet technology. The main purpose of such a weapon is to target deeply buried enemy nuclear bunkers and heavily protected locations; all three military services will utilise this weapon. Referring to the new BrahMos integration and testing facility that was inaugurated in Lucknow last week, former DRDO chief G Satheesh Reddy said it is capable of delivering 100-150 missiles annually. India has two more BrahMos production facilities — in Hyderabad and Thiruvananthapuram. The Akash Shield Developed by DRDO and manufactured by state-run Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL), Akash is a short-range surface-to-air missile (SAM). It is part of India's multi-layered air defence system, which played a decisive role in thwarting Pakistani aerial incursions into India recently. Akash is probably the first-of-its-kind system in the world that is capable of engaging four aerial targets simultaneously at a range of 25km. The new variant — Akash-NG — has an extended range of 70-80km. The missile is equipped with electronic counter-countermeasure (ECCM) capabilities, enabling it to penetrate enemy jamming and other evasion tactics. The Akash system is designed for mobile platforms, making it highly agile and capable of rapid deployment anywhere. While some analysts have likened India's Akash with Israel's famous Iron Dome missile system, there are some fundamental distinctions between the two. First, Akash is a larger platform than the Israeli one. Also, while the Iron Dome is a potent shield against short-range rockets and artillery shells, Akash is capable of intercepting missiles, combat drones as well as aircraft. India reportedly signed a deal with Armenia in 2022 to export 15 units of the Akash missile systems. Brazil and Egypt have also shown interest in this weapon. How D4 disabled enemy drones India resorted to both kinetic and non-kinetic (jamming) warfare to thwart Pakistani drone swarms. Reports suggest the DRDO-developed D-4 anti-drone system was used in the recent military operations. It can disable ordinary drones as well as unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) employing electronic jamming and spoofing techniques. D4 (Drone-Detect, Deter and Destroy) also has a laser-based kill mechanism to destroy enemy drones. It's unclear if this hard-kill method was used in the recent conflict. This system integrates radars, RF (radio frequency) sensors, and EO/IR (electro-optical/infrared) cameras, thereby offering a multi-sensor and 360-degree approach to detect incoming drones. Multiple DRDO labs, including the Electronics & Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), Bengaluru; Defence Electronics Research Laboratory (DLRL), and the Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS), both in Hyderabad; and Instruments Research and Development Establishment (IRDE), Dehradun, contributed towards developing this system. Indo-Israeli collaborations Weapons jointly developed with Israel such as Barak-8 missiles and SkyStriker kamikaze drones also contributed significantly to India's defensive and offensive actions during Operation Sindoor. Barak-8 is a medium range surface-to-air missile (MRSAM) jointly developed by DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries. India's military last month conducted successful tests of this air defence system. The MRSAM includes mobile launchers that can be deployed on land or on navy vessels. The missile is capable of intercepting targets of up to 70km range. In India, it is produced by BDL, Kalyani Rafael Advanced Systems (KRAS) and Tata Advanced Systems (TASL). SkyStriker is a loitering munition jointly developed by Israel's Elbit Systems and Adani Group's Alpha Design Technologies. Although a drone, SkyStriker can be used as a precision weapon. It hovers over the target area to identify and engage threats, operating either autonomously or under human supervision. Import dependence While India did demonstrate the effectiveness of its Made-in-India weapons, it still remains heavily dependent on arms imports. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India is the second-largest arms buyer in the world, with an 8.3% share of global imports between 2020 and 2024. Russia remains India's main weapons supplier, accounting for 36% of its arms imports. Russia's overall share, however, has been steadily declining (72% in 2010-14 and 55% in 2015-19) with India increasingly turning to countries like France, Israel and the US.
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
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. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads "Just ask Pakistan": Yogi Adityanath on BrahMos power Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What is BrahMos and how does it work? BrahMos by the numbers Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 capacity ranges between 200 to 300 kilograms of conventional high-explosive warheads. The missile can be launched from air, land, sea, and underwater 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 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 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 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.
