BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile, India

BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile being developed by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India and NPO Mashinostroeyenia of Russia. The missile can be launched against ships and land-based targets.

BrahMos has a flight range of up to 290km and can reach a maximum speed of Mach 3. The missile can be installed on ships, submarines, aircraft and ground vehicles. BrahMos missiles are inducted in to the armed forces of India and Russia and can also be exported to the friendly nations.

In February 2011, Indian Army placed a $4bn order with BrahMos Aerospace for BrahMos missiles. Deliveries are expected to conclude by 2016.

BrahMos cruise missile development

In February 1998, India and Russia signed an inter-governmental agreement to establish BrahMos Aerospace for producing the BrahMos missiles. The first BrahMos missile was test fired from the integrated test range at Chandipur in Orissa coast in June 2001. Since then, the missile was successfully tested from a variety of platforms including land-based platforms and warships.

In 2008, BrahMos Aerospace acquired an Indian state-owned firm Keltec to manufacture and integrate BrahMos components and missile systems. This was needed to meet the increased orders received from the Indian Army and Navy. A hypersonic version of the BrahMos is also under development.

BrahMos design and features

BrahMos is derived from the Russian made P-800 Oniks / Yakhont supersonic anti-ship cruise missile.

The BrahMos propulsion is based on the Oniks, while the guidance system was developed by BrahMos Aerospace.

The missile can be configured for land, sea and aerial platforms. An aircraft-launched variant (BrahMos A) is currently being configured for the Sukhoi SU-30MKI aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF). It features a smaller booster and additional tail fins for greater stability during launch.

The ship and land-based BrahMos missiles can carry a conventional semi-armour-piercing warhead of 200kg, while the aerial variant can carry a 300kg warhead. These missiles can intercept surface targets as low as 10m in altitude.

The high speed version of the missile provides better target-penetration capabilities than the Tomahawk cruise missile. BrahMos is two times heavier and travels about four times faster than the Tomahawk. The initial kinetic energy delivered is about 32 times that of the Tomahawk missile.

BrahMos block-I, block-II and block-III

The land-based BrahMos block-I was successfully test fired twice in December 2004 and March 2007. The missile was inducted in to the Indian Army in June 2007. Block II, the land attack variant of BrahMos is currently under development. The missile was first tested in January 2009. In September 2010, the missile was test fired at supersonic speeds in a steep-dive mode and created a world record. In December 2010, the BrahMos block-III+ version was successfully test fired from the integrated test range at Chandipur, off the Orissa Coast, India.

The land-based missile system consists of four to six mobile autonomous launchers, a mobile command post and mobile replenishment vehicle. The Indian Army regiment of BRAHMOS-I variant includes 67 missiles, five mobile launchers based on 12x12 Tatra vehicles and two mobile command posts.

BrahMos N1 ship-based cruise missile

The ship-based BrahMos N1 is launched either from the inclined or vertical launch platform.

The missile system can be installed on frigates, corvettes, offshore patrol vessels and other types of vessels to attack sea and land-based targets.

BrahMos Aerospace has developed a universal vertical launcher module (UVLM) for the BrahMos N1 missile.

The UVLM can launch up to eight missiles to destroy a group of warships featuring modern anti-missile defence systems.

The first variant of BrahMos N1 has been installed on front-line warships of the Indian Navy from 2005.

BrahMos air launch missile

BrahMos Aerospace has completed the development of an air launch variant. The aircraft launcher is being manufactured in cooperation with the Sukhoi Design Bureau, HAL and IAF. The launch platform is integrated in to the SU-30 MKI aircraft. The new missile will be inducted in to the IAF in 2012.

BrahMos submarine launch missile

The submarine-launched BrahMos missile is under development and underwater launch trials have been completed. The missile can be fitted on a vertical launcher installed in the pressure hull of the submarine. It can be launched from submarines under a water depth of 40m-50m.

Propulsion

BrahMos is powered by a two-stage propulsion system. Initial acceleration is provided by a solid-propellant booster and supersonic cruise speed is provided by a liquid-fuelled ramjet system. The air-breathing ramjet propulsion is more fuel-efficient in comparison with conventional rocket propulsion. It provides the BrahMos with a longer range over similar missiles powered by rocket propulsion.