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India.com
3 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
Bad news for Pakistan, China as India decides to fast-track development and deployment of this missile, its name is..., range is....
The BrahMos missile, often dubbed India's 'Brahmastra,' inflicted heavy damage on several key strategic sites in Pakistan, used for anti-India activities, during Operation Sindoor. Now, in a big boost to India's defense power, the extended-range BrahMos missile, with a range of 800 km, was successfully tested for the first time in 2025. The missile's combat debut during Operation Sindoor in May 2025 demonstrated its ability strong enough to break through Pakistan's Chinese-made air defenses. This success has led to faster plans to develop and produce more of these missiles, marking a new step in India's military strength. According to the Indian Defence Research Wing(IDRW), the 800km-range variant of the BrahMos missile, a joint venture between India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyenia, was validated in developmental trials earlier this year, with sources confirming its readiness by April 2025. This longer-range version is a big upgrade from the original 290 km range. It became possible after India joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in 2016, which relaxed export restrictions on long-range missile technology. The BrahMos missile was used for the first time in a real operation during Operation Sindoor. This was India's response to a Pakistan-backed terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025. The Indian Air Force launched around 15 BrahMos missiles, mostly from Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets, targeting 11 out of Pakistan's 13 major airbases. Key sites hit included Noor Khan in Rawalpindi, Rafiqui in Shorkot, and Murid in Chakwal. The strikes damaged runways, control centers, and air defense systems. Missile debris found in Rajasthan confirmed the weapon's use. A key factor behind the BrahMos missile's success was its ability to bypass Pakistan's Chinese-supplied air defense systems, such as the HQ-9 missile batteries and YLC-18 radars, reported IDRW. As per the IDRW report, the BrahMos missile's success on the battlefield has accelerated India's efforts in its development and production. The recently opened BrahMos Aerospace Integration and Testing Facility in Lucknow, part of the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor, will be crucial in this process. This cutting-edge facility, completed in just three and a half years with an investment of Rs 300 crore, will handle the assembly and testing of both existing and next-generation (NG) BrahMos models. The lighter NG variant, weighing 1,290 kg and designed to be deployed on smaller aircraft like the MiG-29, Mirage 2000, and Tejas, is expected to begin trials in 2026.
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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.
Forbes
01-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Might Israel Finally Acquire Tomahawk Cruise Missiles Under Trump?
Under the current Trump administration, which is eager to increase arms exports and open to selling long-range munitions, Israel could probably secure an acquisition of the BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missile if it wanted. The U.S. turned down an Israeli request for these offensive weapons decades ago. Israel's subsequent advancements in missile development in the intervening quarter century may have lessened its previous interest in America's most iconic cruise missile. President Trump signed an executive order on April 9 aimed at loosening rules U.S. defense firms must follow when exporting weapons. The order claims Washington is presently 'unable to provide weapons systems in a reliable, effective way to key allies of ours.' The first Trump administration unilaterally reinterpreted how the U.S. would adhere to the Missile Technology Control Regime, which advises signatories not to export drones or cruise missiles with ranges exceeding 186 miles and payloads over 1,000 pounds. The Biden administration also updated policy guidance for Washington's MTCR implementation, authorizing the U.S. to export long-range ballistic and cruise missile systems. While the Tomahawk's conventional warhead weighs about 1,000 pounds, it can accurately strike targets 1,000 miles away, well beyond the MTCR's recommended range. The U.S. only exported the cruise missile to the United Kingdom for decades. That has recently changed dramatically. Australia is the third Tomahawk operator. Its navy test-fired the cruise missile for the first time in December 2024. The Netherlands quickly followed suit, launching its first one from one of its naval frigates this March. Amsterdam formally requested an acquisition of 175 Tomahawk Block V and Block IV missiles in a deal valued at $2.19 billion in April. Japan also signed an agreement for 400 Tomahawks in early 2024. Therefore, the prospect of an acquisition by Israel, another key U.S. ally, is certainly possible in this current climate. Israel expressed interest in a potential Tomahawk purchase back in 1996. It requested the cruise missile again in 2000 as part of a broader arms package in return for a possible peace deal with Syria that would have included returning the Golan Heights to Damascus. Needless to say, no such peace deal happened, and Israel again turned inward to develop its own cruise missiles. Soon thereafter, it unveiled a ground-launched version of its Delilah air-launched cruise missile, the Delilah-GL, which had a much shorter range of approximately 180 miles. Israel would later go on to develop unique air-launched ballistic missiles, many with MTCR-compliant ranges, since it intends to export them. Israel also has land-based Jericho ballistic missiles, with the Jericho 3 purportedly being an intermediate-range ballistic missile with a range and speed exceeding that of the subsonic Tomahawk. However, Israel reserves these strategic missiles for a doomsday scenario involving the use of its undeclared nuclear weapons rather than for conventional strikes and wars. Israelis occasionally question why their country doesn't have conventional surface-to-surface missiles like the Tomahawk. For example, when the Houthis in Yemen successfully struck Tel Aviv with a fatal drone in July 2024, Israel retaliated with Operation Outstretched Arm. As the name implies, the operation entailed the Israeli Air Force flying fighter jets, including its fifth-generation F-35I Adir, and tankers 1,118 miles to strike back. 'Given the complexity and risks involved in such operations, it is worth considering why Israel has not yet developed a 'standoff weapon' like the American Tomahawk missile or the Russian Kalibr,' noted an August 2024 Jerusalem Post editorial. 'Such a weapon would allow Israel to strike distant targets without the need for a large fleet of aircraft or risking pilots' lives, especially in a multi-arena campaign scenario.' Former Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman has repeatedly advocated the establishment of a dedicated missile corps for the Israeli military since at least 2018 and warned against relying too much on the air force. Israel developed ALBMs for the air force, enabling them to hit targets at greater standoff ranges, rather than a separate SSM force. The IAF demonstrated the capabilities of these ALBMs during its April and October 2024 airstrikes against strategic targets deep inside Iran. Since its inception, the Tomahawk has long served aboard American and British warships and submarines, with upcoming operators also planning on introducing the missile to their respective navies. Israel's German-built Dolphin diesel-electric submarines are known to carry Israeli-made Popeye Turbo submarine-launched cruise missiles. Interestingly, their testing and introduction did not come long after the U.S. declined Israel's request for the Tomahawk in the year 2000. Little is known for sure about this missile's capabilities or whether Israel ever intends to use them as conventional weapons. Israel's Dolphins are believed to provide it with a second-strike capability in the event of a nuclear attack, meaning it's likely those Popeye Turbo SLCMs, much like the land-based Jericho missiles, are reserved for a nuclear war. If Israel ever does seek Tomahawks again, it may not want them for its navy. And with the recent introduction of the Typhon transporter erector launcher, officially named the Strategic Mid-range Fires System, the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile can also serve as a land-based SSM. The SMRF can also fire the U.S. Navy's Standard SM-6 missile, which the U.S. Navy has used against Houthi missiles and drones that have also menaced Israel since 2023. The SM-6 can counter aircraft, anti-ship missiles, and even ballistic missiles in their terminal phase. It can also serve as an anti-ship missile. Israel already has one of the world's densest, multilayered, technologically advanced air defense systems. However, repeated attacks, including two ballistic missile barrages from Iran, have put it under strain, and the U.S. has helped bolster and reinforce it by deploying two Terminal High Altitude Air Defense systems. The U.S. recently deployed the SMRF in the Philippines. A similar deployment or transfer to Israel could reinforce that country's protection against incoming missiles—Israel recently retired its long unloved American MIM-104 Patriot PAC-2 systems—and give it a formidable, long-range surface-to-surface missile. Israel would undoubtedly welcome an American deployment of the SMRF but may not prioritize acquiring the launcher or the defensive and offensive missiles it launches, even if the opportunity arises. While proponents of a missile corps like Lieberman may welcome such an acquisition, Israel has doubled down on using the air force as its foremost tool for offensive operations. Its experience with the Patriot has also convinced it of the necessity of investing in developing indigenous air defenses to deal with missile threats. Consequently, Israel will most likely focus on developing the next exoatmospheric Arrow missile and introducing the Iron Beam laser defense system for combating short-range threats. Nevertheless, expect Israelis to occasionally question why their country doesn't have the Tomahawk missile or at least an indigenous Israeli-made equivalent.
Newsweek
30-04-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
US Hits Iran With Fresh Sanctions Over Missile Program
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The United States has slapped new sanctions on a network of individuals and entities in Iran, accusing them of facilitating the transfer of ballistic missile propellant materials to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), even as high-stakes nuclear talks continue behind closed doors. The U.S. Treasury Department targeted six companies and six individuals for facilitating the transfer of chemicals used in the production of solid-fuel rocket motors. Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. State Department and Iran's Foreign Ministry for comment. Why It Matters This latest round of sanctions signals that President Donald Trump is not backing down on his "maximum pressure" campaign, despite the ongoing diplomatic efforts with Iran. By targeting entities that aid Iran's missile development, the U.S. underscores that any future deal must address more than just nuclear concerns. The sanctions are the eighth such action since February 4, when Trump signed a memorandum initiating a comprehensive strategy against Iran. These measures demonstrate the administration's resolve to continue economic and political pressure while seeking to limit Iran's military capabilities. A view of Iran's domestically made satellite launch vehicles (SLVs) and missiles in the Museum of Holy Defense in Tehran, Iran on April 17, 2025. The term "Holy Defense" is used to refer to Iran-Iraq... A view of Iran's domestically made satellite launch vehicles (SLVs) and missiles in the Museum of Holy Defense in Tehran, Iran on April 17, 2025. The term "Holy Defense" is used to refer to Iran-Iraq war that took 8 to Know The Treasury sanctioned a network that allegedly facilitated the procurement of sodium perchlorate and dioctyl sebacate—chemicals used in the production of ammonium perchlorate, a key component of solid propellants for ballistic missiles. These materials were reportedly sourced from China and supplied to Iran's IRGC. Ammonium perchlorate is regulated under the Missile Technology Control Regime, an international agreement designed to prevent the spread of missile technology. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday: "Iran's aggressive development of missiles and other weapons capabilities imperils the safety of the United States and our partners," emphasizing the urgent need to curb Tehran's military advancements. Nuclear Talks Continue While sanctions continue, U.S. and Iranian officials have engaged in three rounds of talks since early April. These discussions, held in Muscat and Rome, have been described as positive but have yet to yield substantial breakthroughs. A fourth round of talks is expected soon. Port Explosion Draws Speculation The fresh sanctions follow a deadly explosion in the southern Iranian city of Bandar Abbas, where the death toll has risen to at least 70. Iran's interior minister has said negligence was a factor in the massive explosion and fire at Shahid Rajaee, the country's largest container port. Media reports in the U.S. and Europe speculated that sodium perchlorate stored at the site may have contributed to the blast. Iran's Defense Ministry denied the claims, insisting no sensitive materials were stored there. Firefighters and emergency crews gather near damaged structures after the explosion at Shahid Rajaee port in Bandar Abbas, Iran, on April 28, 2025. The blast, believed to have originated from hazardous chemicals, killed at least... Firefighters and emergency crews gather near damaged structures after the explosion at Shahid Rajaee port in Bandar Abbas, Iran, on April 28, 2025. The blast, believed to have originated from hazardous chemicals, killed at least 70 people and injured over 1,200, according to local People Are Saying U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said: "Iran's aggressive development of missiles and other weapons capabilities imperils the safety of the United States and our partners. To achieve peace through strength, Treasury will continue to take all available measures to deprive Iran's access to resources necessary to advance its missile program." Iran Defence Ministry spokesman stated: "There were and are no import or export of fuel shipments or cargo for military use in the vicinity of the incident." What Happens Next The upcoming fourth round of talks set for Saturday will be crucial as both sides continue to navigate their differences. With ongoing sanctions and the threat of further action, the U.S.-Iran discussions are expected to focus on finding a resolution that includes both nuclear and missile-related issues.
Times of Oman
30-04-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
US imposes sanctions on Iran, China entities over Iran's ballistic missile programme
Washington DC: The United States has imposed sanctions on six entities and six individuals in Iran and China for their involvement in procuring ballistic missile propellant ingredients for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The sanctions target a network that has facilitated the transfer of key materials, including sodium perchlorate and dioctyl sebacate, from China to Iran. In a press statement released on Tuesday, the US Department of State said, "The United States is sanctioning six entities and six individuals based in Iran and China for their role in a network procuring ballistic missile propellant ingredients on behalf of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)." The statement added, "Today's action, which targets this network that has facilitated the procurement of sodium perchlorate and dioctyl sebacate from China to Iran, is taken in support of the United States' maximum pressure campaign to curtail Iran's ballistic missile program and disrupt the activities of the IRGC, as outlined in the President's National Security Presidential Memorandum 2 of February 4, 2025." The statement further said that the US will continue to hold accountable those who seek to advance Iran's ballistic missile programme, to include its procurement of propellant ingredients used for ballistic missiles. As per the US Department of Treasury, Sodium perchlorate is used to produce ammonium perchlorate, which is controlled by the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), a multilateral political understanding among states that seek to limit the proliferation of missiles and missile technology. Both ammonium perchlorate and dioctyl sebacate are chemicals usable in solid propellant rocket motors, which are commonly used for ballistic missiles. US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent emphasised that Iran's development of missiles poses a significant threat to the safety and security of the United States. "Iran's aggressive development of missiles and other weapons capabilities imperils the safety of the United States and our partners. It also destabilises the Middle East, and violates the global agreements intended to prevent the proliferation of these technologies. To achieve peace through strength, Treasury will continue to take all available measures to deprive Iran's access to resources necessary to advance its missile programme," Bessent said.
