Brahmos becomes hugely popular after Operation Sindoor, India's fire-and-forget missile is now wanted by....

Brahmos becomes hugely popular after Operation Sindoor, India's fire-and-forget missile is now wanted by....
Operation Sindoor can be loosely called as Surgical strike 2.0. But it was hugely different from what happened in Balakot in 2019. This time India hit Pakistan in its heart and without crossing the LoC. This brave act was possible with India supersonic cruise missile – the Brahmos, which was first successful tested off the Chandipur coast of Odisha in 2021.
In April this year, India dispatched the second batch of BrahMos supersonic missiles to the Philippines, marking a milestone in global defence cooperation. This follows a $375 million deal signed in 2022.
According to reports, many countries have expressed fresh interest in acquiring this advanced system. At present, India has three variants of this missile – the air-launched version, the land-based-version and submarine-based version.
Brahmos is a two-stage missile with a solid propellant booster engine. At its first stage, the engine brings the missile to supersonic speed and then gets separated.
What is Brahmos?
Brahmos is a universal long range supersonic cruise missile system that can be launched from land, sea and air. It has been jointly developed by DRDO, India, and NPOM, Russia. BrahMos is an amalgamation of the names of the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers.
Which countries want to acquire Brahmos?
According to report following are countries which are interested in Brahmos:
Vietnam: India is close to finalising a $700 million deal to supply Brahmos missiles to Vietnam, boosting its maritime defence against China.
Malaysia: Malaysia may consider Brahmos missiles for its Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighter jets and Kedah-class warships.
Thailand, Singapore, Brunei: These South-East Asian countries are in various stages of negotiations with India.
Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Venezuela: These Latin American countries are interested in the naval and coastal defence variants of Brahmos
Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Oman: These Middle Eastern countries have also expressed interest, with talks in advanced stages with some of them.
South Africa, Bulgaria: South Africa and Bulgaria are in different stages of negotiation for possible procurement.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Scroll.in

40 minutes ago

• Scroll.in

Punjab: Two arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan

Two persons suspected of spying for Pakistan's intelligence agency were arrested by Amritsar Rural Police, an official said on Sunday. The two individuals accused in the case were identified as Gurpreet Singh and Sahil Masih, Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said in a social media post. Singh was allegedly in direct contact with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence operatives. He is 'suspected of sharing sensitive information via pen drives,' Yadav added. The Pakistani intelligence handler involved in the case was identified as Rana Javed, claimed the director general of police. Two mobile phones allegedly used for communication with the intelligence operatives were also seized, he added. These arrests bring the number of persons apprehended in the state on similar charges to 12, The New Indian Express reported. On June 3, the Punjab police had arrested a man from Tarn Taran district for allegedly spying for Pakistan's intelligence agency and leaking sensitive information about Operation Sindoor. Yadav had said then that the man, identified as Gagandeep Singh, posed a 'a threat to national security' after allegedly sharing sensitive details about troop deployments and military locations in lieu of money during India's military strikes on Pakistan.

First Post

3 hours ago

• First Post

How Turkey's interests in the Indian Ocean go beyond just Islamism

Like many other European nations, the US or China, Turkey has also seemingly concluded that the Indian Ocean is where the action is, and outsider nations should have a presence here if they have to be counted in, even as a wannabe global power read more In the post-Operation Sindoor domestic discourse, the strategic community in India, as well as sections of the nation's polity, have been targeting Turkey, along with China, for supporting Pakistan in what essentially was a cross-border terror attack in Pahalgam. In a simplistic way, many Indians have concluded that Turkey's support for Pakistan flowed from religious commonality. At times, it has been interpreted as Ankara's desire to recreate the Ottoman Empire spirit from a bygone era, where peripheral Muslim states in South Asia may be more malleable to inducements than nations from the Islamic heartland in West Asia and, by extension, Africa. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Such constructs are only partially and Pakistan have been friends and partners for over four decades, even as Ankara and New Delhi remained friends and trading partners. Turkey's backing for Pakistan, starting with the 'Kashmir issue' for some years now, is in fact a part of Ankara's two-decade-long plans for expanding beyond its immediate neighbourhood into the Indian Ocean. In a way, Turkey's ambitions in the matter are possibly older than those of China, which is also a non-territorial entity in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) but wants to have at least a piece of the cake. In comparison to both, the US, with its Diego Garcia military base, wants to be seen as an IOR entity. After the UK recently conceded Mauritius sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, of which Diego Garcia is a part, the US has got a new 99-year lease, over and above the original 50 years plus an additional 20, the latter since 2016. France, with the Reunion Island not far away from Diego Garcia, can claim greater legitimacy in the IOR. Extending the argument, it can be said China's interest in acquiring a 99-year lease of Hambantota 'territory' in Sri Lanka has a legitimacy angle to it as much as the trade, transhipment and bunkering business that it entails. No other non-regional player can claim such legitimacy and access – though in the case of China in Hambantota, the lease agreement does not entail any military presence. Hence also the Indian reservations about China sending out 'spy ships' in the name of oceanic research in recent years. In context, Turkey does not have any base or 'territory' of the Hambantota kind in these parts. That, however, has not stopped Ankara from making friends and influencing nations in the IOR neighbourhood, especially because India anyway would not have partnered with Turkey in creating a shared strategic interest in these parts. Certainly, it would not have helped India in any way. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Thus, street calls in India for a boycott of Turkey, as happened in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, on the lines of the successful social media boycott call of Maldives two years back, over time can only be counterproductive, especially if Indians are going to act on them in a big way. Such street acts on the government are forced to fall in line when New Delhi has been handling issues in a mature way. Unique Animal In geopolitical terms, Turkey is a unique animal. It has had historic links both with Asia and Europe, which is only a geographical reality. In terms of its Asian connections, rather than the religious roots, the country is a member of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC). In geo-economic terms, Turkey is not a member of the EU. But in geopolitical and geostrategic terms, the nation signed up with the US-led NATO because it feared the erstwhile Soviet Union. For the same reasons, Ankara was also a member of the US-created Central Treaty Organisation (CENTO). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Because India did not yield to American persuasions and instead created the non-alignment movement along with like-minded erstwhile European colonies in the Cold War era, Pakistan signed up, precisely for the same reason. The CENTO did not have as much relevance or importance as NATO, but it was one more venue where Turkey and Pakistan interacted. In historic terms, the Ottoman Empire had its origins in Islam that was native to Asia at the founding stage. With a 99-per cent Muslim population, Turkey is also only one of the two member nations in NATO, other than Albania (60 per cent Muslim), that has strong Islamic roots and presence. As is otherwise acknowledged, NATO is incidentally a grouping of nations that cherish 'Christian values'. Incidentally, the new name, 'Türkiye', is of very recent origins. Ankara notified the new name, or spelling, from the original Turkey to the UN in 2021 and officially adopted it only in 2023. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Turkey had a 'Vision 2023 Project' for the centenary year of the post-Ottoman Republic. It also has a 'Türkiye 2053 Project', coinciding with the 600th anniversary of the 'Conquest of Istanbul', an important milestone in Islamic political history. Since 2005, Ankara has been following a 'Three Vision' foreign policy, with a focus on Europe, West Asia and Africa, with the aim to recreate the 'Ottoman spirit'. In fact, the country even sought EU membership, and the aim is to try to leverage it to sub-serve the nation's geo-economic, geopolitical and geo-strategic ambitions. Yet, Ankara also has a clearer vision than is acknowledged, especially in 'distant' nations like India. It wants to make its mark in technology, and that includes technology for military purposes. Friendly Nations Turkey's drones played a significant role in Ukraine's continuing war with Russia, making the rest of the world look up. It has also emerged as a dependable defence supplier for 'friendly nations', of which Pakistan is only one, even in these parts. It wooed incumbent Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu from his past as Male mayor, and Turkey was the first country he visited after assuming office in November 2023. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Turkey has since delivered three drones to the Maldives to replace India-gifted aircraft to survey the vast seas around the archipelago against international drug smuggling and possible terrorist activities. More recently, Turkey also donated a 40-plus-year-old missile-capable naval vessel to Maldives, which is said to be a 'gas-guzzler' – but Ankara's message stood conveyed. In between, Turkey's 'TCG Kinaliada', a naval vessel, paid a goodwill visit to Maldives last year. During President Muizzu's maiden overseas visit to Turkey, his 'friend' Erdogan also seemingly promised to deliver the Maldives' full year's rations of essentials, including rice, sugar and wheat flour. The aim, whether of Muizzu, Erdogan or both, was to cut off Maldives' near-exclusive dependence on India in this department. Blame it on the Houthis' attack on shipping in the Red Sea or whatever; that did not happen. Maldives had to then go back to India quietly for continuing the supplies, for which Muizzu had bravely declared he 'will not depend on only one source'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Multi-polar World Plain and simple, Turkey's Indian Ocean outreach goes beyond Islam. Rather, the nation has regional and global ambitions like many others, especially in the post-Cold War era, when a multipolar world has caught the imagination of many nations. Turkey visualises itself as a 'middle power' of some kind and hopes to exploit its location advantage in political, economic and geo-strategic terms, using Islam as one more chip, or trump card, where it works. It suits the incumbent government of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He and his ruling party have made 'Islamic nationalism' a steady staple in domestic politics. Erdoğan is facing re-election next year and street protests at present. The protests in March followed the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, a possible challenger in next year's presidential poll. The issue of democracy may play a key role in the polls, but it does not necessarily mean that Turkey will overnight give up national ambitions. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Wannabe Power From an Indian perspective, this is important. Turkey's support for Pakistan on the 'Kashmir issue' flows from 'Islamic nationalist' and 'expansionist' tendencies. Under Erdoğan, it has vocalised and become louder – and also as frequent as Islamabad has wanted. But Turkey's national ambitions and a global role, centred also on the 'distant' Indian Ocean, remain. Like many other European nations, the US or China, Turkey has also seemingly concluded that the Indian Ocean is where the action is, and outsider nations should have a presence here if they have to be counted in, even as a wannabe global power. The writer is a Chennai-based Policy Analyst & Political Commentator. Email: sathiyam54@ Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views.

Time of India

4 hours ago

• Time of India

'Not working with India has a cost': Jaishankar on ties with neighbours; mentions Pakistan

S Jaishankar (PTI photo) NEW DELHI: External affairs minister has said that India should not expect 'smooth sailing' all the time when it comes to relations with neighbouring countries. Speaking in an interview on DD India, he said that New Delhi has worked to create a 'collective interest' with its neighbours—so that even if governments change, the relationship stays steady. 'At the end of the day, the logic every one of our neighbours must realise is that working with India will give you benefits, and not working with India has a cost,' Jaishankar said. He added that while most neighbours understand this, 'some take longer to realise, some understand it better.' But Pakistan is an exception, he explained, because its military controls the country and has built 'in-built hostility' towards India. On global powers, Jaishankar said the United States can be unpredictable, so India has built strong ties with it through many connections. Talking about China, he said India must be ready to 'stand up' to it, especially since the Galwan clash in 2020 worsened ties. He pointed out that one of the big mistakes in the past was ignoring India's border infrastructure. 'To have a China policy and neglect your border infrastructure was absurd,' he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like What She Did Mid-Air Left Passengers Speechless medalmerit Learn More Undo He added that today, India is able to defend its interests along the LAC because 'we have built the border infrastructure to make that possible.' Jaishankar also talked about India's growing ties with its neighbours, Gulf countries, Asean, and the Indo-Pacific region. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not only set goals but 'charted a path to get there.' He mentioned India's ongoing Operation Sindhu to rescue citizens from the Israel-Iran conflict zone, and remembered Operation Ganga as the 'most complex one' during the war in Ukraine. On political instability in neighbouring countries, he said changes are natural, but India has tried to create a culture and system where 'the collective interest is stronger than those who are advocating distancing.' He gave examples of Sri Lanka and Maldives, where ties remain good despite regime changes. About Nepal, he admitted, 'We are often in their internal politics... We should not expect smooth sailing all the time. ' 'But you should also not throw up your hands when things get difficult. That's poor planning,' he said. On terrorism and Pakistan, Jaishankar said the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks were a 'turning point.' He said the attack was 'let unpunished' and that India had followed the same policy toward Pakistan for decades—until the Modi government changed that. He pointed to the 2016 Uri surgical strike, the 2019 Balakot air strike, and the recent Operation Sindoor as examples of a 'new normal,' where India shows it won't just sit back. 'You can do horrible things and think there is impunity because you are on that side,' he said, but now 'the initiative will not always be with you.' He also said India's actions on terrorism and the removal of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir should be seen as part of a bigger strategy, not separate steps. Calling PM Modi a 'leader of his times,' Jaishankar said the public mood has changed, and Modi reflects the country's 'self-confidence.' Talking about global changes, he said, 'What you are talking about are trendlines, which didn't happen one fine day, they developed over many years.' India has worked to build strong relations with major powers and different regions, aiming to be in the best position in a 'multipolar world.' In the last 11 years, India's foreign policy has focused on this idea of multipolarity, EAM Jaishankar said. 'You need to envision the world today… multiple poles are competing but cooperating with each other,' he added. India, he said, is trying to ensure it faces 'the least problems and most benefits.'