BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile
WEAPON SYSTEM OVERVIEW
BrahMos is the pinnacle of Indo-Russian joint defence technology, established under BrahMos Aerospace between India's DRDO and Russia's NPOM. Operating on a 'fire-and-forget' principle with a solid-propellant booster and liquid ramjet engine, BrahMos travels at three times the speed of sound (Mach 2.8–3.0) and maintains a sea-skimming altitude as low as 3 to 10 meters, rendering existing point-defence missile systems virtually ineffective.
STRATEGIC DETERRENCE & COMBAT ROLE
BrahMos provides India with an unmatched conventional deterrence capability across all three military branches. In the Indian Army, mobile Autonomous Launcher vehicles (ALVs) armed with BrahMos missiles can destroy hardened command bunkers and radar centers across mountain ranges. In the Navy, it is standard main battery armament on every frontline destroyer and frigate. In the Air Force, Su-30MKI fighters armed with air-launched BrahMos-A command maritime choke points thousands of kilometers into the Indian Ocean.
OPERATIONAL DEPLOYMENT & COMMAND FOOTPRINT
4 Army missile regiments; 15+ frontline Navy destroyers/frigates; IAF 222 Squadron 'Tigersharks' (Thanjavur) and 221 Squadron (Halwara).
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS MATRIX
| Speed | Mach 2.8 – 3.0 (Supersonic) |
| Operational Range | 290 km (Baseline) / 450–500+ km (Extended Range - ER) |
| Flight Altitude | Sea-skimming 3m to 15,000m cruising altitude |
| Warhead | 200 to 300 kg Semi-armour piercing / High Explosive |
| Guidance | Mid-course INS/NavIC + Terminal Active Radar Homing / Imaging Seeker |
| Launch Platforms | Mobile Land Launchers, Warships (VLS), Submarines, Su-30MKI Fighters |
OPERATIONAL VARIANTS
BrahMos Block I/II/III
Land-attack cruise missile with steep dive and mountain trajectory capabilities.
BrahMos-A (Air Launched)
Lightened 2.5-tonne variant engineered for carriage by IAF Su-30MKI fighters.
BrahMos-ER (Extended Range)
Upgraded propulsion allowing strike ranges beyond 500 km.
BrahMos-NG (Next Generation)
Compact 1.5-tonne Mach 3.5 missile for Tejas Mk1A, Rafale, and AMCA.