Event/Highlight | BrahMos Missile in spotlight due to recent India-Pakistan tensions (May 10). |
Developed By | Joint project between India's DRDO and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyeniya. |
Name Origin | Derived from rivers Brahmaputra (India) and Moskva (Russia). |
First Deployment | Indian Navy (2005) → Indian Army (2007) → Indian Air Force (2019). |
Type | Supersonic cruise missile. |
Length | Approx. 8.2 meters (varies by variant). |
Speed | Mach 2.8 to Mach 3.5 (3 times the speed of sound). |
Range | Initial: 290 km; Extended: 500-800 km; Future: Up to 1,500 km. |
Guidance System | Inertial navigation + satellite navigation + active radar homing for terminal guidance. |
Warhead | 200-300 kg conventional warhead (high explosive or semi-armour-piercing). |
Cost | Project cost: $250 million (₹2,135 crore); Factory setup: ₹300 crore; Per missile: ₹34 crore. |
Propulsion | Two-stage system: Solid rocket booster + liquid-fueled ramjet sustainer. |
Variants | BrahMos Block I (290 km), BrahMos-A (500 km), Extended Range (450-500 km), BrahMos-II (Hypersonic, Mach 8, 1,500 km), BrahMos-NG (Next Gen). |
Special Features | Multi-platform launch (land, sea, air, submarine), low radar signature, autonomous operation, variable flight paths (steep dives, sea-skimming). |
Operational Deployment | Indian Navy (ship-launched), Indian Army (mobile launchers), Indian Air Force (Su-30MKI), Submarine-launched. |
Future Developments | BrahMos-II: Hypersonic (Mach 8+), BrahMos-NG: Improved stealth & radar, Longer ranges (up to 1,500 km). |