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BrahMos

Cruise missile

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Through India, Brahmaputra River and Hyderabad

Land-launched, ship-launched as well as air-launched versions have been inducted across the services of the Indian Armed Forces.

The missile guidance has been developed by BrahMos Aerospace. In 2016, after India joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), the range of the missile was gradually enhanced.

In 2022, the CEO of BrahMos Aerospace, Atul Rane, stated that a future hypersonic missile, designated as the BrahMos-II and based on the 3M22 Zircon, could be developed.

Origin

The BrahMos was developed from Russia's NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOMASH) P-800 Oniks family of cruise missiles, through a joint venture between NPOMASH and India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), named BrahMos Aerospace.The missile design was significantly aided by Alexander Leonov, CEO and Chief designer at NPOMASH. The company was established on 5 December 1995 with an authorized share capital of US$250 million. India holds 50.5% share of the joint venture, and its initial financial contribution was US$126.25 million, while Russia holds 49.5% share with an initial contribution of US$123.75 million.

Since late 2004, the missile has undergone several tests from a variety of platforms, including a land-based test from the Pokhran range in the desert, in which the evasive 'S' maneuver at Mach 2.8 was demonstrated for the Indian Army, and a launch in which the land attack capability from sea was demonstrated.

Keltec (now known as BrahMos Aerospace Trivandrum Ltd or BATL), an Indian state-owned firm, was acquired by BrahMos Corporation in 2008. Approximately ₹1,500 crore (equivalent to ₹46 billion or US$473.8 million in 2026) invested in the facility to make BrahMos components and integrate the missile systems. This was necessitated by the increased order book of the missile system, with orders having been placed by both the Indian Army and Navy. Initially, Russia supplied 65% of the BrahMos' components, including its ramjet engine and radar seeker. As of 2018, 65% of the missile was manufactured in India and there were plans to increase this to 85% by replacing the components with an Indian made seeker and booster.

The BrahMos headquarters complex is located at New Delhi and consists of a design centre and aerospace knowledge centre. The integration complex is located at Hyderabad and a production centre is located at Thiruvananthapuram. Another assembly line is being established at Pilani. The aerodynamic characterization research was conducted at the National Aerospace Laboratories' 1.2m Trisonic Wind Tunnel Facility.

Defence Materials and Stores Research and Development Establishment (DMSRDE) was successful in preparing domestic fuel for BrahMos. Testing of the fuel, which will power the missile's liquid ramjet engine, has begun at Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL). As per the lab, the fuel will not freeze even in temperatures between −50° and −55 °C. It will replace the imported fuel from Russia.

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