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In a significant move to advance one of the world's most formidable cruise missiles, India and Russia are collaborating on a major upgrade for the BrahMos supersonic missile.
The joint venture, BrahMos Aerospace, is developing a new variant designed to reach speeds of Mach 4.5, a substantial increase from its current Mach 3 capability.
This initiative focuses on enhancing the missile's ramjet engine to achieve higher velocities while maintaining its operational range of 450 to 800 kilometers, further solidifying its position as a dominant weapon system and increasing its international export appeal.
The core of this development lies in refining the ramjet engine for sustained high-speed performance, a project that will be led by Russian scientists with expertise from India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
This collaboration is a testament to the strong and enduring defence partnership between the two nations. The BrahMos missile system, a cornerstone of India's tactical strike capabilities, is already a combat-proven platform.
The existing airframe of the BrahMos is robust and capable of withstanding the stresses of flight at Mach 4.5 without requiring a complete redesign. However, achieving such high speeds presents significant engineering challenges, particularly in materials and propulsion.
The upgrade will involve the development of new high-temperature alloys to manage the extreme heat generated at near-hypersonic speeds, as well as specialized fuels for efficient combustion.
According to a senior official involved in the program, this speed enhancement is crucial to ensure the missile remains unchallenged for the next two to three decades.
Ground testing of the improved ramjet engine is expected to begin within the next three years.
This advancement in speed will dramatically reduce the time available for enemy air defence systems to react, making interception extremely difficult.
The new variant may also incorporate elements from DRDO's Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) program, which has been successful in testing scramjet technology.
The increased velocity will also enhance the missile's kinetic energy upon impact, making it more effective against hardened targets such as underground bunkers, naval vessels, and command and control centers.
The development of the enhanced BrahMos is progressing with ground trials already underway, and flight integrations are expected to follow.
The upgraded missile is anticipated to be ready for operational deployment by the early 2030s. This will bolster India's strike capabilities across all domains—land, sea, air, and from submarines.
Furthermore, the improved performance is expected to attract significant interest from international buyers, building on the missile's existing export success with countries like the Philippines and Indonesia.
