After Its Devastating Debut in Op Sindoor, IAF to Acquire 110 More BrahMos-A Missiles for Enhanced Standoff Strike Capability

The Ministry of Defence has authorised a major acquisition valued at $7.64 billion, significantly strengthening India's military power. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to induct an additional 110 BrahMos-A air-launched supersonic cruise missiles as part of this new procurement.

The approval also includes the purchase of 87 advanced, heavy-duty drones, signalling a clear commitment to modernising the armed forces and enhancing the nation's strategic defence posture.

This decision follows the BrahMos-A missile's recent and highly effective combat debut during the "Operation Sindoor." In its first operational use, the weapon system was instrumental in crippling key infrastructure of the Pakistan Air Force. The precision strikes successfully targeted and neutralised enemy airbases and runways, establishing the missile as a combat-proven asset for the IAF.

The BrahMos-A is the airborne variant of the formidable BrahMos missile, recognised as the fastest supersonic cruise missile in the world.

Developed by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya, its name is a portmanteau of the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers.

he missile travels at speeds between Mach 2.8 and 3.0, carrying a high-explosive warhead of 200–300 kg.

Following India's induction into the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), its range has been extended to over 450 km, with future versions planned to reach up to 800 km.

The integration of the BrahMos-A with the IAF's premier Su-30MKI fighter jets provides a powerful standoff strike capability, allowing pilots to engage high-value targets from well outside the range of enemy air defences.

The missile’s advanced design includes a low radar signature and a flexible flight path, cruising at altitudes up to 15 km before making its final attack as low as 10 metres from the ground.

This combination of speed, precision, and stealth makes the BrahMos-A extremely difficult to intercept, a capability that was reportedly validated during its recent deployment.

 

HAL's F414 Engine Pact with GE Remains Resilient Despite Trump's Tariff War Threats, Deliveries Expected by 2028

India-Russia May Finally Greenlight Long-Delayed Brahmos-II Hypersonic Missile Program During President Putin's Upcoming Visit

[Dredd]

Should have ordered more to benefit from economies of scale. Also, we will be having export orders for these missile types from Indonesia, Armenia, etc.

 

[Jabberwock]

$7.64 billion for 110 BrahMos missiles?

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

$7.64 billion for 110 BrahMos missiles?

No, that is the money for all the projects approved by the defence ministry that day. One of those projects is 110 BrahMos.

 

[siva saba]

BrahMos-NG is the need of the hour. When will it be ready?

 

[Dr. Venkateswara Rao. Korasiga]

Instead of Su-30 Brahmos, it would be better to develop drone-mounted Brahmos. This would save aircrafts from attack.

 

[Bagoonpora]

Tejas Mk2 will be able to carry the BrahMos-NG (Next Generation) supersonic cruise missile. The BrahMos-NG is a smaller, lighter variant of the original BrahMos designed for integration with a wider range of fighter aircraft, including the Tejas Mk2.

 

[Bagoonpora]

The procurement of over 110 air-launched BrahMos missiles, along with other defence systems, holds significant importance for India.

The BrahMos-A, the air-launched variant of the missile, is a crucial component of the Indian Air Force's (IAF) standoff strike capabilities. When integrated with a platform like the Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jet, the combination creates a potent weapons package that can deliver precision strikes against both land and sea targets from a safe distance. The additional missiles will significantly boost the IAF's firepower and ability to engage targets deep within enemy territory.

BrahMos is a "prime conventional (non-nuclear) precision strike weapon" for the Indian armed forces. Acquiring a large number of these missiles sends a clear signal of India's commitment to modernizing its military and enhancing its strategic deterrence in the region. This is particularly relevant in the context of recent geopolitical tensions and the need for India to maintain a strong defence posture.

While BrahMos is a joint venture between India and Russia, the production of these missiles in India contributes to the country's "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (self-reliant India) initiative in defence manufacturing. The BrahMos Aerospace facility in Lucknow is a testament to this, with plans to scale up production to meet the growing demand.

The need for these missiles was reportedly felt during recent military operations, demonstrating their effectiveness in real-world scenarios. The BrahMos-A has proven its destructive precision, and the new orders reflect the confidence in its capabilities.

The continued investment in the BrahMos programme, including the development of the smaller BrahMos-NG and the hypersonic BrahMos-II, showcases a long-term strategy. The current order for a large number of missiles helps sustain the production ecosystem and provides a foundation for the development and future integration of more advanced missile systems.

In essence, this order is not just about adding more missiles to the inventory; it's a strategic move to strengthen India's defence, reinforce its position as a regional power, and advance its goal of self-reliance in the defence sector.

 

[Kira]

BrahMos-A is too cumbersome, and only one can be carried by the MKI. That too is confined to modified MKIs. BrahMos-NG would be the real deal.

 

[Sandeep]

It’s absolutely essential that we order more missiles as in a war you will need thousands. However it makes more sense to quickly develop the Brahmos NG as that will give us an advantage and we can carry out multiple strikes as it will be able to hold more missiles. Whatever we develop we need to make sure that it’s 100% indigenously developed and manufactured from local raw materials.

The other alternative is to quickly complete developing the Rudram missile as it can hit the target at hypersonic speeds creating and causing more damage. This will be a 100% indigenously developed and manufactured from local raw materials.