India’s BrahMos missile is transforming contemporary warfare with unparalleled speed, accuracy, and flexibility.
New Delhi: As tensions between India and Pakistan increase, Islamabad accused India of using the BrahMos missile in recent confrontations. New Delhi has yet to confirm officially, but the BrahMos is one of the most powerful Indian weapons, a quantum leap forward in military capabilities.
Co-developed by India and Russia, and christened after the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers, the BrahMos missile has already found successful integration and testing on India’s lead-line fighter aircraft, the Sukhoi-30MKI. Why is this missile unique? Let us examine five important technological features that make BrahMos a real game changer:
1. Supersonic Speed That Cannot Be Detected
The BrahMos is one of the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missiles, with a speed of almost three times the speed of sound (Mach 3).This incredible speed allows it to evade hostile radar systems undetected and strike a surprise and crushing blow.
2. Exceptional Precision Targeting
The missile has excellent accuracy, capable of hitting targets within as close as one meter in a distance of up to 290 kilometres. Its advanced seeker technology can recognize and lock on a target even in a field of similar targets, for maximum collateral damage avoidance and effectiveness.
3. Multi-Platform Versatility
BrahMos provides breathtaking operational versatility, which can be launched from a range of platforms such as submarines, surface warships, aircraft, and ground launchers. Initially installed on the INS Rajput in 2005, it has since been integrated into the Indian Army and Air Force arsenal, enhancing India’s strategic reach.
4. Destructive Impact Power
One trial recalled by former DRDO scientist Ravi Gupta involved a non-warhead BrahMos missile striking an old boat, bisecting it within minutes.This showed the missile’s huge kinetic energy and devastating power, even without bombs.
5. Future-Ready with Scramjet Propulsion
India tested successfully a scramjet engine on 21 January 2025, which, when combined with BrahMos, would make its speed eight times that of sound, or Mach 8. This would render the missile virtually impenetrable to intercepts and significantly enhance its destruction potential.
Today, the weight of BrahMos is around 2,900 kilograms, restricting aircraft to a single missile. But the BrahMos NG, of around 1,260 kilograms weight and 300 kilometres range, is being developed. This lighter missile will enable fighter jets to carry up to five BrahMos missiles simultaneously, significantly amplifying firepower.
Defense analyst Colonel Manish Ojha (Retd.) comments, “After multiple successful trials, BrahMos has evolved into a long-range, highly accurate, and lethal missile. Its induction on the Sukhoi-30MKI has greatly enhanced India’s strike power. On-going upgrades pledge even greater operational brilliance.
With its cutting-edge technology and unparalleled speed, BrahMos is not just a missile but a strategic force rewriting India’s defense landscape and reinforcing national security.
