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India Today
4 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.
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First Post
24-05-2025
- Business
- First Post
India, Russia begin talks to jointly develop advanced BrahMos missile following Operation Sindoor success
BrahMos, a joint Indo-Russian venture named after the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers was first inducted in 2005 as an anti-ship missile. Over time, it has evolved into a versatile system capable of being launched from land, sea, sub-sea, and air, targeting both surface and maritime threats. read more India and Russia have begun negotiations to jointly manufacture an advanced version of the BrahMos missile, following the missile's effective deployment during Operation Sindoor and the subsequent conflict with Pakistan, according to a report. As reported by the Economic Times, Russia has offered full technical cooperation for the upgraded missile in India. Initial discussions between New Delhi and Moscow have already taken place, ET has further learnt. India is progressing towards extending the range of the BrahMos missile to 800 km, with the maiden test already conducted, two officials independently confirmed. Additional trials are planned in the coming months to validate performance parameters of the extended-range variant. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Originally capped at 290 km due to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) limitations, the missile's range was increased to 450 km after India joined the MTCR in June 2016. More from World How Indian Air Force proved its mettle in Operation Sindoor India has marked a key milestone in indigenous defence manufacturing with the inauguration of a new BrahMos missile production facility in Lucknow. Set up at a cost of ₹3,000 million, the state-of-the-art plant is located within the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor. The facility, spread over 80 hectares of land provided by the Uttar Pradesh government, is capable of producing up to 100 BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles annually, along with 100 to 150 next-generation variants each year. The move is expected to significantly enhance India's self-reliance in defence production, in line with the government's broader push for indigenous capabilities under the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiative. BrahMos, a joint Indo-Russian venture named after the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers was first inducted in 2005 as an anti-ship missile. Over time, it has evolved into a versatile system capable of being launched from land, sea, sub-sea, and air, targeting both surface and maritime threats. The integration of the BrahMos-NG (Next Generation) variant into the Indian Air Force is seen as a major leap in aerial strike capability. The missile allows for deep, high-speed strikes from stand-off distances, significantly reducing pilot exposure to hostile airspace. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Its extended range and speed provide the capability to neutralise high-value targets such as enemy command centres, radar facilities, and maritime assets before they can respond effectively, giving Indian forces a strategic edge in modern warfare.
India.com
18-05-2025
- Business
- India.com
India's BrahMos Missile Is A Global Sensation – But Here's Why It Can't Be Sold Freely
New Delhi: When the Indian Air Force struck nine Pakistani airbases with BrahMos missiles during Operation Sindoor, the impact reverberated far beyond the subcontinent. The precision, speed and devastation caused by these supersonic missiles sent a message loud and clear: India is no longer just a buyer of world-class weaponry, it is also a producer. Widely considered one of the fastest and most accurate cruise missiles, the BrahMos gained overnight celebrity status in military circles. It can be launched from land, air or sea, travels at Mach 3 speed (three times the speed of sound) and can strike within a meter of its target. Its blistering attack on Pakistani bases like Rafiqui and Mureed left their air defences helpless. Pakistan simply could stop a single BrahMos in flight. The world took notice. Countries across Southeast Asia, the Middle East and even South America began approaching India with interest. Nations like the Philippines, which became the first official buyer in 2022, were soon followed by Vietnam, Indonesia, Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Brazil – all of them eager to acquire the missile that left Pakistan's defences in tatters. However, there is a significant roadblock. India cannot sell BrahMos freely as the missile is not entirely Indian. BrahMos is the result of a joint venture between India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyeniya. The BrahMos Aerospace oversees the missile's production, but every sale to a third country requires Moscow's approval. Both nations have a 50-50 stake in the missile's technology. And therefore, India cannot export it without Russia's formal consent. This veto power has major strategic implications. For instance, even if a country like Indonesia is ready to sign a deal, negotiations can stall if Russia is hesitant due to its geopolitical interests or existing alliances. In case of Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia or the UAE, nations with close U.S. ties and complicated relationships with Moscow, Russia might have serious reservations. And in regions like the South China Sea, where tensions are high, Russia may prefer to avoid escalating conflicts by indirectly arming one side through BrahMos sales. Even countries India sees as key defence partners must wait for the Kremlin's nod. Adding to this complexity is India's commitment to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), a global agreement that prevents the export of missiles with a range beyond 300 kilometers to non-member states. To stay compliant, the export version of BrahMos has a capped range of 290 km – much lower than the extended-range variants India now uses itself, some of which can reportedly reach up to 800 km. So, not only does India need Russian approval, it also has to limit the missile's capabilities for international buyers. This dual restriction, Russia's co-ownership and MTCR rules, has exposed the paradox in India's defence ambitions. On one hand, India wants to become a global arms exporter and reduce its reliance on foreign suppliers. The irony could not be sharper. The very missile that showcased India's military prowess against Pakistan has now become a reminder of its dependence. If New Delhi wants to use BrahMos as a tool of diplomacy and deterrence, it will have to either renegotiate export terms with Moscow or accelerate development of a completely indigenous alternative with no strings attached. Until then, the BrahMos will remain India's deadliest weapon, but one it cannot fully unleash on the global stage.
New Indian Express
14-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
'Operation Sindoor' a bold signal of India's defence strength and self-reliance: Saraswat
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: 'Operation Sindoor' has sent a clear message to the world that India shall never be underestimated and that the country is a leading force now, according to Dr V K Saraswat, former Director General of the DRDO. The military offensive, a retaliation on terror launch pads in Pakistan and PoK in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 persons dead, also highlights the self-reliance India has built in defence technology, the former chief of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) told PTI Videos. Saraswat, who played a key role in the development of India's missile and air defence systems, said that through 'Operation Sindoor', India has shown it is self-reliant and has the capacity and capability to counter any threat from any direction. "The precision with which we were able to reach the targets in the enemy's territory shows the quality of our weapons. The greatest thing today is, other than the S400 that was taken from Russia, I think all the missiles LRSAM, MRSAM, Akash and all the drones, all the fighter aircraft, everything, are indigenously produced in the country-- designed, developed and manufactured," Saraswat said. The Akash, MRSAM (Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile), and LRSAM (Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile) are key components of India's multi-layered air defence system. The NITI Aayog member recalled how the restrictions imposed on India by the international community under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) turned out to be an opportunity for the country to develop indigenous technologies and components for its weapon systems. "We have done the development of all our missile systems, whether they are air-defence systems, or strategic missiles, ballistic missile defence systems or long range ballistic missiles like Agni, Prithvi-- and all of them have been developed under, what is called the MTCRs. So every step, we had to face challenges of non-availability of support from the international community," Saraswat added. He said India was deprived of materials, components, and technologies that the country wanted to develop its missile systems. "We were not part of the MTCR, so even our own very good friends were not giving us technology," he said. Saraswat recalled how DRDO, under the leadership of former President, the late Dr Abdul Kalam, turned this into an opportunity for indigenous technology development.
News18
11-05-2025
- News18
BrahMos Used In Operation Sindoor: All About India's Supersonic Cruise Missile
Last Updated: The BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile developed through joint venture between India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyeniya. India reportedly unleashed its formidable BrahMos supersonic cruise missile as part of Operation Sindoor in retaliatory precision strikes on Pakistani military bases. The sites targeted were the Pakistani bases at Rafiqui (Shorkot, Jhang), Murid (Chakwal), Nur Khan (Chaklala, Rawalpindi) Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur and Chunian (Kasur). In the strikes, the air bases in Skardu, Bholari, Jacobabad and Sargodha suffered extensive damage. While there is no official confirmation on the use of the BrahMos, Indian strikes on Pakistan aligns with its intended use for high-value and strategic targets. Signaling a new level of assertive retaliation from New Delhi, Brahmos' potential deployment marks the first reported combat use of the Indo-Russian joint venture weapon. What Is BrahMos Missile? The BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile developed through a joint venture between India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyeniya. The name 'BrahMos' is a portmanteau of the Brahmaputra River of India and the Moskva River of Russia, symbolizing the partnership. What Is The Range Of BrahMos Missile? Initially capped at 290 km to comply with Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), the range of BrahMos has been extended to 800-900 km for land and ship-based versions after India joined MTCR in 2016. Air-launched versions have a range of 450-500 km. BrahMos is known for its high accuracy, reportedly achieving a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of around 1 meter. It utilizes a two-stage system with Inertial Navigation System (INS), GPS/GLONASS/GAGAN for mid-course guidance, and active radar homing for terminal accuracy. Its low-flying capability (as low as 3-10 meters in sea-skimming mode) and supersonic speed make it difficult to intercept. Which Targets Can BrahMos Be Used For? BrahMos is a versatile missile capable of engaging land, sea, and air-based targets. It can be launched from various platforms, including land-based Transporter Erector Launchers (TEL), ships (both vertical and inclined launchers), submarines (submerged launch), and fighter aircraft (like the Su-30MKI). How India And Russia Collaborated BrahMos? BrahMos Aerospace was established on February 12, 1998 in which India holds a 50.5% stake, and Russia holds 49.5%. The venture combines India's expertise in areas like inertial navigation and mission software with Russia's strength in ramjet technology and cruise missile design. First Published: May 11, 2025, 09:24 IST
