News excerpts:
In a mega boost for the Indian Navy, the Cabinet Committee on Security has cleared the acquisition of over 200 BrahMos extended-range supersonic cruise missiles for deployment on its warships.
More about the news:
- The BrahMos is the main weapon for anti-ship and attack operations for the Indian navy warships.
- The missiles will largely be deployed on various warships to enhance the overall combat capabilities of the Navy
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BrahMos Missile:
- The BrahMos is a medium-range, ramjet powered, supersonic cruise missile jointly developed and manufactured by India and Russia.
- BrahMos supersonic cruise missile can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft (Sukhoi-30 MKI) or from land platforms.
- Earlier the missiles had a range of 290 kms. The extended-range variant of the weapon has a range of around 450-500 kms.
- BrahMos flies at a speed of 2.8 Mach or almost three times the speed of sound.
- The BrahMos derives its name from the Brahmaputra and Moscow rivers in India and Russia.
- The missile is based on the earlier Russian design for the (Oniks/Yakhont/Bastion) cruise missile.
- In 1998, a joint venture was set up between the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Russia’s Mashinostroyenia Company. The two entities formed a company now known as Brahmos Aerospace, which develops and manufactures the BrahMos.
- Recognized as the best and fastest precision-guided weapon globally, BRAHMOS has significantly bolstered India's deterrence capabilities in the 21st century.
BrahMos-NG:
- BrahMos-NG is a smaller and lighter version of the BrahMos missile.
- This next-generation weapon will be integrated onto smaller fighter jets like the Tejas, Mirage-2000, and MiG-29s.
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The export of BrahMos:
- The Philippines is the first global customer of the BrahMos missile.
- Besides the Philippines, many other countries in the Southeast Asian region have also shown major interest in the missile system.
- Variants sold internationally only have a range of 290 km to fall under the 300 km restrictions in the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).
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Missile Technology Control Regime:
- Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) is an informal political understanding among states that seek to limit the proliferation of missiles and missile technology.
The regime was formed in 1987 by the G-7 countries and currently has 35 member states.
- The MTCR is not a treaty and does not impose any legally binding obligations on members.
- The regime aims to limit the spread of missiles and other unmanned delivery systems that could be used for chemical, biological, and nuclear attacks.
- The regime urges its 35 members to restrict their exports of missiles and related technologies to 300 kilometres or less.
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Cruise Missile:
- A cruise missile is a self-propelled, guided missile that flies through the air at low altitude towards a predetermined target.
- Cruise missiles are propelled by jet engines, much like an airplane.
- They are designed to deliver a large warhead over long distances with high precision.
- Cruise missiles are typically launched from aircraft, ships, or submarines.
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