Indian Naval Warships to get BrahMos-ER

In a move to significantly enhance its naval capabilities, the Indian Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has approved the acquisition of over 200 BrahMos extended-range supersonic cruise missiles. This deal, valued at approximately Rs 19,000 crore, marks a major investment in bolstering the Indian Navy’s anti-ship and attack operations.

The BrahMos extended-range (ER) variant, speculated to have a range of around 800 kilometers, represents an upgrade over the baseline configuration. While maintaining the same size and overall design, the ER missile reportedly incorporates an active radar seeker for improved target acquisition. This advanced seeker technology allows the missile to independently locate and engage its target, enhancing its effectiveness in diverse operational scenarios.

Powered by a potent liquid propellant ramjet motor, the BrahMos ER boasts high supersonic speeds, making it a formidable weapon for both offensive and defensive purposes. Its extended range provides the Indian Navy with greater strategic reach and deterrence capabilities, allowing it to engage targets at significant distances from the coastline.

This acquisition aligns with India’s focus on strengthening its maritime security and emerging as a dominant force in the Indian Ocean region. The BrahMos ER missiles will equip warships across the Indian Navy fleet, significantly enhancing their firepower and operational flexibility.

 

[Satya Dev]

That's almost Rs 100 crores apiece - why we never developed a cheaper desi alternative?

 

[Anant]

Um, assuming for a minute that the deal is for 200 missiles costing 19,000 crores, that comes to Rs. 95 crore per missile, which is roughly 11.46 million dollars per missile.

That is ridiculously expensive. While the BrahMos is a formidable weapon, we cannot use it as the sole missile for our ships.

Oh, and by the way, the cost of each missile here is coming out to about 2.75 times the export price of a Tomahawk Block 5 cruise missile. We are getting ripped off here in the name of indigenisation!

 

[Frank]

100 crore ....

Dear God ruakis are looting us

Now I am happy that russkis are dying like dogs in Ukraine...

We need mass produces cheap cruise missiles asap...

Such brahmos white elephants will be useless in war

 

[desigandu]

$11.45 Million per Brahmos ER - this sounds insanely expensive...Something is not right given this math...Jai Hind...Jai Bharat...Wikipedia says Zircon hypersonic missiles are estimated to be $10M, so is this Brahmos-II or just ER???

 

[desigandu]

Um, assuming for a minute that the deal is for 200 missiles costing 19,000 crores, that comes to Rs. 95 crore per missile, which is roughly 11.46 million dollars per missile.

The math seems off???

 

[Mango_Indian]

95 crores per BRAHMOS missile? AGNI missile is cheaper. Heck, that's nearly equal to 1/6th Chandrayaan rocket cost.

Looks like a BRAHMOS SCAM or an extra zero added by mistake.

 

[Anil Kumar]

I think it's better and more important to get 2-3 new submarines in this price

 

[Anant]

The math seems off???

How so, Sir? 19000 crores for 200 missiles is 95 crores per missile. 95 crore INR comes to 11.46 million USD at today's exchange rate.

 

[nibba turtle]

how much gold or platinum is put into making Brahmos ER?

 

[Anant]

how much gold or platinum is put into making Brahmos ER?

Looking at this price, I imagine they'd be making the whole thing out of gold. Ridiculous prices!

 

[Prashu Sam]

95 crores per BRAHMOS missile? AGNI missile is cheaper. Heck, that's nearly equal to 1/6th Chandrayaan rocket cost.

Looks like a BRAHMOS SCAM or an extra zero added by mistake.

It is not SCAM. Yes, indeed Brahmos is costly and should be used against high value targets Only.

Problem is Nibhay is not ready and Armed forces do not have cheaper alternative in production at this time. All other products are in Several years of Development Cycle. Pending User trials, approvals, production, induction etc. So till another 5 years Brahmos is only choice.

 

[desigandu]

How so, Sir? 19000 crores for 200 missiles is 95 crores per missile. 95 crore INR comes to 11.46 million USD at today's exchange rate.

Not your math but what is being reported as $11.45 million per Brahmos-ER which is more expensive than Zircon hypersonic missile at $10M reportedly.

 

[Anant]

Not your math but what is being reported as $11.45 million per Brahmos-ER which is more expensive than Zircon hypersonic missile at $10M reportedly.

It's ridiculous pricing. A Tomahawk Block 5 costs around 4 million dollars for export, while a Harpoon II missile comes in at about 2.5 million dollars at export prices. Now, neither of those missiles are supersonic, but if a supersonic missile means paying such ridiculous prices, then we should just import. We can't move ahead with such absurdly expensive acquisitions and then claim funds for modernisation are not available.

It should be noted here that we sent Chandrayaan 3 to the Moon for less than the price of 7 of these missiles!

 

[Anant]

Problem is Nibhay is not ready and Armed forces do not have cheaper alternative in production at this time. All other products are in Several years of Development Cycle. Pending User trials, approvals, production, induction etc. So till another 5 years Brahmos is only choice.

If that is case, then I'd rather we just import a few hundred Tomahawk and Harpoon missiles. You can't use indigenisation as an excuse to justify acquisitions at prices as ridiculous as this.

 

[beencensured]

neither of those missiles are supersonic, but if a supersonic missile means paying such ridiculous prices, then we should just import. We can't move ahead with such absurdly expensive acquisitions and then claim funds for modernisation are not available.

If it hits it will sink whatever, but that is best reason. Now, you may need three harpoons, or tomahawks to sink the same ship. It becomes then cost effective.

 

[beencensured]

I think it's better and more important to get 2-3 new submarines in this price

They could have scaled up the Akash missile which was also ram jet.

 

[beencensured]

If that is case, then I'd rather we just import a few hundred Tomahawk and Harpoon missiles. You can't use indigenisation as an excuse to justify acquisitions at prices as ridiculous as this.

You seem to be foolish as any stinger type missile can take down harpoons and Tomahawk type missile besides ciws, and so they are less effective then one Brahmos. Russia Ukraine war has proven the effectiveness of supersonic missile against air defenses in Ukraine like Pac-3. Even Pakistan was unable to detect the accidental firing of Brahmos.

 

[beencensured]

Um, assuming for a minute that the deal is for 200 missiles costing 19,000 crores, that comes to Rs. 95 crore per missile, which is roughly 11.46 million dollars per missile.

That is ridiculously expensive. While the BrahMos is a formidable weapon, we cannot use it as the sole missile for our ships.

Oh, and by the way, the cost of each missile here is coming out to about 2.75 times the export price of a Tomahawk Block 5 cruise missile. We are getting ripped off here in the name of indigenisation!

Look there may be buying many other things beside the missile, and further cost effective as supersonic missiles get through air defenses of Ukraine. So, if you must fire 4-5 missile to get a hit, verses with Brahmos only one then Brahmos wins as more cost effective. But then again there are many targets with very little defenses.

 

[Vijay Anand]

Everyone here is worried about the price.... guys from where would the money for election rallies come from??!!!

 

[Banjo]

Everyone here is worried about the price.... guys from where would the money for election rallies come from??!!!

These are two very different issues. Stick to the topic

 

[Baiju Bhaskaran]

I think the exact quantity is not disclosed.The quantity mentioned is more than 200. If the price mentioned is correct then the exact quantity should be somewhere between 350 and 400 as the cost of each Brahmos ER is approximately 5 million dollars. As more and more ships are joining the Navy, we need more Brahmos as other missiles are still in the development stage. So it is a good decision.

 

[Anant]

Look there may be buying many other things beside the missile, and further cost effective as supersonic missiles get through air defenses of Ukraine. So, if you must fire 4-5 missile to get a hit, verses with Brahmos only one then Brahmos wins as more cost effective. But then again there are many targets with very little defenses.

Doesn't matter. The BrahMos can also very well be intercepted with the right tech, and if you are having to fire a BrahMos (which costs five times a Harpoon) to have the same effect as firing, say, even 4.75 Harpoon missiles (taking an average there), you are still having to pay more. War isn't a cost-benefit analysis in the way you put it.

Not to mention the fact that while the BrahMos has a reasonably long range, it still has fairly short legs as these things go. Not much point having a bunch of nearly-uninterceptible 450km ranged missiles if your enemy can send a missile swarm from double that range at you.

 

[Anant]

If it hits it will sink whatever, but that is best reason. Now, you may need three harpoons, or tomahawks to sink the same ship. It becomes then cost effective.

It doesn't. A AShM like the Harpoon is less cost-effective than the original BrahMos, but this ER variant turns the table around. It's even better not to even compare this with the Tomahawk, since even the Block 3 Tomahawk can reach a range of 1300+ km, and the Block 5 can reach out to over 1650 km. That range is almost thrice (for the Block 3), and over 3.5 times (for the Block 5) of the BrahMos-ER's range.

It won't help if your enemy can send a few dozen slower missiles at you from a range where you can't reply. That battle would be over before we closed the range.

 

[Ranjeet Singh]

BrahMos makers should also develop Mac 10+ 1800 km and 2500 km range BrahMos !