21-05-2025
Development of longer range BrahMos missile as well as sleeker BrahMos-NG variant on track
The development of a new, compact air launched version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, the BrahMos-NG (Next Generation), is at an advanced stage, while the range extension of the original BrahMos, much heavier than the air launched one, to 800 km is progressing well, defence sources said. The BrahMos air launched version was employed by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to devastating effect in the recent confrontation with Pakistan to strike that country's air bases.
The range of BrahMos was originally capped at 290 km, in line with the limitations of the Missile Technology Control Regime. However, since India joined the grouping in June 2016, the range was extended to 450 km, and work to extend it to 800 km is underway. The maiden trial has been conducted and more trials will be undertaken, two officials independently confirmed.
'BrahMos-NG is a sleeker air launched missile than the current variant, and is in advanced stages of development. It should be ready for flight testing in a year or so,' a defence official said, adding it would be ready for production and induction in one to two years after that.
The air launched version is lighter than the land and ship variants, and is currently mounted on the Sukhoi Su-30MKIs. Being much lighter, the BrahMos-NG can be mounted on other fighters, including the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.
In January 2020, the IAF inducted the 222 'Tiger Sharks' squadron consisting of modified Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, armed with air launched BrahMos missiles. Of the 272 Su-30MKI contracted by the IAF, 40 were initially modified to carry the air launched BrahMos.
The BrahMos-NG will weigh 1.33 tonnes, about half the weight of the current air launched missile at 2.65 tonnes. With this, a Su-30MKI will be able to carry up to four BrahMos-NG missiles, while the LCA will be able to carry two missiles, as reported by The Hindu earlier. According to the IAF, the air launched BrahMos is a 2.5 tonne supersonic air to surface cruise missile with a range of more than 400 km and a maximum speed of 2.8 Mach.
During the strikes by the Indian forces on Pakistani military targets from May 7-10, the IAF fired the air launched BrahMos from Su-30MKI jets for precision hits on air bases, and they could not be intercepted by Pakistan's Chinese origin air defence systems.
Former Air Chief Marshal (ACM) V. R. Chaudhari has stated in the past that the forthcoming BrahMos-NG would be the IAF's 'primary deterrent weapon'. The ACM had said in 2023 that as the standoff unfolded on the northern borders in 2020, they had realised it could be used very effectively for land attacks. The IAF has since equipped more squadrons with Su-30MKI aircraft modified to launch BrahMos missiles.
BrahMos is a joint venture between India and Russia, named after the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers, inducted in 2005 in an anti-ship variant. The missile is capable of being launched from land, sea, sub-sea, and air against surface and sea-based targets.
