IAF Aims to Equip 60 Su-30MKIs with 800km Range BrahMos-A Missiles, Multi-Phase Trials Expected in 2026

BrahMos Aerospace, the Indo-Russian joint venture, is set to significantly enhance the capabilities of its BrahMos-A air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) with a range extension to nearly 800km. This upgrade will further solidify the BrahMos-A's position as one of the world's most formidable precision strike weapons.

Currently, the BrahMos-A has a range of 450km and is deployed on 40 Indian Air Force (IAF) Su-30MKI fighter jets. The IAF plans to equip an additional 20 Su-30MKIs, bringing the total number of BrahMos-A capable aircraft to 60.

This extended range will provide the IAF with a significant boost in its long-range strike capabilities, enabling it to engage targets at greater standoff distances.

The BrahMos-A is renowned for its supersonic speed, advanced navigation system, and pinpoint accuracy, making it a potent weapon against high-value targets such as enemy installations, naval vessels, and strategic assets.

This range upgrade, expected to be achieved through advancements in missile propulsion and fuel efficiency, will greatly expand the missile's operational envelope and strategic value.

To ensure the extended-range variant's reliability and performance, BrahMos Aerospace has planned a series of developmental trials starting in 2026.

These trials will involve testing the missile under various conditions, evaluating its propulsion efficiency at the new range, and confirming the accuracy and reliability of its targeting systems over extended distances.

This 800km-range BrahMos-A will be a crucial addition to India's strategic arsenal, providing a high-impact, low-risk strike capability.

Its combination of speed, range, and precision will act as a powerful deterrent and offer the IAF greater operational flexibility in countering potential threats.

 

[sanket]

Thats what I was saying But some naysayers were saying it was not possible to Increase Range that will increase the weight of Missile too now it will b reality i am always Right

 

[R. Singh]

Make additional 60-80 Super Su-30MKI to carry BhraMos-A missile and deploy them at Andaman, Lakshdweep and Mauritius airbases !

 

[INDIAN]

Rather than 800km it should have been 1000km, it's like a psychological range. Oh, that much range of world's fastest cruise missile.

 

[Shiva]

450km is too old story. Sad to see no progress on sufficient trials for Indigenous seeker, no progress in range increase without reducing payload. It seems complete sucking happened in Brahmos thing. Don't know if it is intentional or a technological challenge that Russian existing technologies cannot enhance. A very dirty example of mismanagement.

 

[Kiran Kumar]

Why this misslie range has been capped to 450Km only and whose permission is needed to hit targets upto 1000Km? Why does our Scientists and Politicians are not serious about the threats posed by Chinese Navy in IOR

 

[Sandeep]

450km is too old story. Sad to see no progress on sufficient trials for Indigenous seeker, no progress in range increase without reducing payload. It seems complete sucking happened in Brahmos thing. Don't know if it is intentional or a technological challenge that Russian existing technologies cannot enhance. A very dirty example of mismanagement.

A seeker has already been developed and in use. As for the range they will increase it to 800km for new missiles. They are also increasing the amount of indigenous technology and content which will continue.

 

[Sridhar]

Why this misslie range has been capped to 450Km only and whose permission is needed to hit targets upto 1000Km? Why does our Scientists and Politicians are not serious about the threats posed by Chinese Navy in IOR

Nobody has stopped Indian scientists from developing a long-range ALCM. But to double the range, the missile has to undergo significant changes, which include a new seeker, modifications in propulsion systems, payload, and missile weight to suit the fighter jet. For these developments, it will take time. So hold your horses.

 

[Sandeep]

The current Brahmos missile with a range of 800km has significantly increased and improved our fire power but the only problem is its weight and size. Another issue is that they have to modify the Sukhoi jets and reinforce the air frame and undercarriage which will take time and cost us.

The ideal situation would be to upgrade our 84 Sukhoi jets into using the Super Sukhoi variant but also upgrade and reinforce the undercarriage so it can use the large Brahmos missile at the same time.

However ultimately we need to develop our long
range standard air to surface Rudram missile which can hit the target at hypersonic speed.

 

[Harish jyala]

In the future wars with electromagnetic radar system. The speed of a weapon will be the X factor. So improving the current speed should be the priority rather than improving the range.