BrahMos
About
- BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Russian Federation’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya, a rocket design establishment.
Did you know?
- The name BrahMos has been coined from the names of two rivers, the Brahmaputra in India and the Moskva in Russia.
Ballistic Missiles vs Cruise Missiles:
- Ballistic missiles are rocket-propelled weapons that follow a predetermined arched trajectory.
- These missiles can travel vast distances and are capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional warheads.
- They often exit the Earth’s atmosphere before re-entering to strike their targets.
- In contrast, cruise missiles are guided missiles that remain within the Earth’s atmosphere throughout their flight.
- Powered by jet engines, they maintain a constant speed and are designed for precision strikes.
- Cruise missiles can be launched from various platforms, including aircraft, ships, and ground-based launchers.
- They typically fly at lower altitudes, making them harder to detect by radar systems.
What is a Supersonic Cruise Missile?
- Depending upon the speed, cruise missiles are classified as:
- Subsonic cruise missile (flies at a speed lesser than that of sound i.e. less than 1 Mach)
- Supersonic cruise missile (travels at a speed of around 2-3 Mach)
- Hypersonic cruise missile (travels at a speed of more than 5 Mach).
- It is a two-stage missile with solid propellant booster as first stage and liquid ramjet as the second stage.
- Capable of flying at Mach 2.8, BrahMos uses a “fire and forget” guidance system — once launched, no further guidance is required.
- The missile’s low radar signature and high kinetic energy make it especially difficult to intercept.
- The range of the missile was originally capped at 290km as per obligations of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). Following India’s entry into the club in 2016, the range has been extended to 450km and work is on to extend it to 600km and beyond.
Missile Technology Control Regime:
- MTCR is an informal, voluntary association of governments to restrict the proliferation of missiles, complete rocket systems, unmanned air vehicles, and related technology.
- Established in 1987, MTCR includes 35 members (including India).
Why in News?
- Vietnam has signed a BrahMos missile deal with India.
- The Philippines, which signed a contract in 2022, was the first foreign buyer of the BrahMos missile system from India. Indonesia has also entered into an agreement with India to procure the BrahMos missile system.