Latest news with #BrahMos-NG
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Hypersonic missiles, next-gen BrahMos, new air defence: DRDO chief reveals long list of India's future-ready weapons
India is advancing a wide range of indigenous defence technologies including hypersonic missiles , long-range air defence systems, and next-generation fighter aircraft, according to Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Chairman Dr. Samir V. Kamat. In an interview to NDTV, Dr. Kamat outlined DRDO 's current and future projects that aim to enhance India's strategic deterrence and battlefield capabilities across air, land, and sea. BrahMos and its smaller successor A key focus area is the BrahMos missile , co-developed with Russia and currently launched from Su-30MKI fighter jets. To increase deployment flexibility, DRDO is working on BrahMos-NG, a next-generation variant designed to fit into more fighter platforms. BrahMos-NG is lighter and smaller, allowing wider deployment across India's air fleet. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Air conditioners without external unit. (click to see prices) Air Condition | Search Ads Search Now Undo India's hypersonic weapons programme India is also developing two types of hypersonic weapons — a cruise missile and a glide vehicle. The glide vehicle project is at a more advanced stage. Dr. Kamat said, 'We should be able to complete developmental trials in two to three years and then we can go for induction.' For the hypersonic cruise missile, scramjet propulsion has already been successfully tested for 1,000 seconds. Full-scale development awaits government approval. Once cleared, it may take five to seven years to reach operational status. Live Events Air-to-air and air-to-ground missile upgrades DRDO is extending its missile capabilities with new variants of the Astra air-to-air missile. The existing Mk-1 is in service, while Mk-2 and Mk-3 with longer range are under development. Meanwhile, the Rudram series of air-to-ground missiles is being upgraded. Rudram-2, Rudram-3, and Rudram-4 are in different stages of development. Surface-to-air defence and anti-drone technologies Under the Kusha programme, India is developing long-range surface-to-air missiles to match capabilities like the Russian S-400. The system is internally known as 'Sudarshan Chakra'. In parallel, DRDO is also developing directed energy weapons including high-powered lasers and microwave systems to neutralise drones and other aerial threats. Mobile artillery and light tanks India's indigenously developed Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) is being adapted into a mobile version. Last year, the government approved a proposal for 814 truck-mounted, self-propelled 155mm gun systems costing around ₹15,000 crore. Apart from defence PSUs, private firms like Tata, L&T, Bharat Forge , and Mahindra Defence have been approached for participation. Dr. Kamat also shared details about the light tank project named Zorawar. Built with L&T for high-altitude deployment along the border with China, the 25-tonne tank is expected to see 354 units inducted by the Indian Army. Naval weapons nearing induction For the Indian Navy, DRDO is developing torpedoes, naval mines, and other undersea warfare technologies. Dr. Kamat said many of these systems are 'close to induction,' signalling near-term deployment of several indigenous maritime platforms. Fifth-generation fighter response to China-Pakistan axis Dr. Kamat commented on reports that Pakistan may receive 40 J-35 stealth aircraft from China by next year. India's response is the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft ( AMCA ), which received formal sanction in 2024. In a previous interview, Dr. Kamat said, 'The AMCA will take 10 years to complete and would be ready by 2035.' According to an Economic Times report, the Indian Air Force is expected to procure six squadrons — around 120 aircraft. Unlike the Tejas programme where HAL led manufacturing, AMCA will follow a new production model. The government has issued an expression of interest to bring in either HAL, a private firm, or a public-private joint venture as the lead production partner. Lessons from recent operations Dr. Kamat stressed the need for future weapons to operate without external support. Citing lessons from Operation Sindoor, he said, 'All weapons must function without GPS or communication,' highlighting DRDO's focus on autonomous systems that can work in electronically denied environments. India's defence strategy is moving towards greater self-reliance and operational flexibility through indigenous technologies. The DRDO's ongoing work across multiple platforms reflects a long-term commitment to building modern, multi-domain defence capabilities.
India.com
02-06-2025
- Politics
- India.com
New generation BrahMos missile deadlier than before, can hit any target in Pakistan in just…, strike range of…
New generation BrahMos missile deadlier than before, can hit any target in Pakistan in just…, strike range of… During this operation, the BrahMos missile played an important role. By Tahir Qureshi Edited by Tahir Qureshi Advertisement New Delhi: Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor on late evening of May 6 against terrorists and their infrastructure across the LoC and the international border of Pakistan to avenge the cowardly and dastardly Pahalgam terror attack of April 22, in which 26 people were killed. The Indian Armed Forces killed over 100 terrorists and destroyed their launch pads apart from many air bases of Pakistan and inflicted heavy damage on their military capabilities. Advertisement === During this operation, the BrahMos missile played an important role as it struck deep inside the enemy territory and destroyed strategic targets with high precision. The BrahMos is a long-range supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, or fighter aircraft. It is a joint venture between the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Russian Federation's NPO Mashinostroyeniya, who together have formed BrahMos Aerospace. The name BrahMos is a portmanteau formed from the names of two rivers, the Brahmaputra of India and the Moskva of Russia. Advertisement === Now, India is working on developing the next generation of BrahMos missiles which would be even more advanced in terms of speed, range, accuracy, and speed. According to reports, the work is on for BrahMos 2.0 or BrahMos-NG (Next Generation), a next-generation version of the powerful BrahMos missile. The report says that it will have a strike range beyond the current 600 km. Currently the BrahMos is launched from the Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jet. Efforts are being made to make it compatible with other aircraft. The BrahMos-NG (Next Generation) is speculated to weigh around 1,300 kg. It is expected to attach four missiles to the Sukhoi and two missiles to the Tejas fighter jet. How quickly can it reach Pakistan? BrahMos 2 could reach speeds of Mach 6, which is about 7408 kmh. It means that the missile could cover the distance between Delhi and Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, which is around 640 km, in just over five minutes. India is also testing a submarine-launched version of BrahMos, enabling underwater launches.
India.com
31-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
India's Big Move In Defence, Set To Unveil BrahMos 2.0 Missile
In a major leap for India's defense capabilities, work is now underway on BrahMos 2.0, a next-generation version of the powerful BrahMos missile, which is already among the most advanced in India's arsenal. Capable of being launched from land, sea, and air, its destructive precision has reportedly left adversaries like Pakistan concerned, especially after Operation Sindoor. In today's DNA, Rahul Sinha, Managing Editor of Zee News, analysed BrahMos 2.0, the next-gen version of India's BrahMos missile: Watch Full DNA Episode Here: #DNAWithRahulSinha | ब्रह्मोस 2.O का 'शक्तिशाली विश्लेषण', भारत के 'ब्रह्मास्त्र' का घातक अवतार आएगा! ब्रह्मोस की ताकत डबल..मुनीर का 'बीपी' डबल!#DNA #BrahmosMissile #Brahmos @RahulSinhaTV — Zee News (@ZeeNews) May 31, 2025 Extended Range: Efforts are ongoing to extend the missile's strike range beyond the current 800 km. The Indian Navy already possesses variants with this capability, while the Air Force's air-launched version currently has a 500 km range. Efforts are ongoing to extend the missile's strike range beyond the current 800 km. The Indian Navy already possesses variants with this capability, while the Air Force's air-launched version currently has a 500 km range. More Aircraft Compatibility: The BrahMos is currently launched from the Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jet, which has undergone major modifications to carry the 2.5-ton missile. Only one missile can be carried at a time. Efforts are now focused on making the missile compatible with additional aircraft. The BrahMos is currently launched from the Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jet, which has undergone major modifications to carry the 2.5-ton missile. Only one missile can be carried at a time. Efforts are now focused on making the missile compatible with additional aircraft. BrahMos-NG: A new version called BrahMos-NG (Next Generation) is in development. Weighing around 1,300 kg, it is expected to allow the Sukhoi to carry up to four missiles and India's Tejas fighter to carry two. One of the most significant advancements is BrahMos 2.0, a hypersonic missile with a projected speed of Mach 6 — approximately 7,400 km/h. At this velocity, the missile will cover over 2 km every second, doubling the current BrahMos speed and drastically reducing enemy response time. For context, the distance from Delhi to Pakistan's Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi — about 640 km — could be covered in just over five minutes, leaving adversaries with virtually no time to react. Submarine-Launched BrahMos India is also testing a submarine-launched version of BrahMos, enabling underwater launches without exposing the launch platform. Only six countries globally possess such technology. Once operational, Indian submarines would be able to strike targets deep within enemy territory without nearing their coastline. Initially, only 7% of the BrahMos missiles were manufactured in India. However, that number has now risen to 75%, intending to soon reach 84%, thanks to increased domestic production. Final testing on some components is underway, after which BrahMos could be declared a fully indigenous system. The S-400 Edge Alongside BrahMos, another key asset strengthening India's defense is the S-400 air defense system. India had signed a deal with Russia for five squadrons, three of which are already operational along Indian borders. The fourth squadron is expected by February 2026, and the fifth squadron by August 2026. During Operation Sindoor, the S-400 system played a crucial role in Indian air defense. Its delivery was delayed due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Meanwhile, reports from Russia claim that an S-400 missile system shot down a US-supplied F-16 fighter jet in Ukraine. The missile team involved was awarded a cash prize of approximately Rs. 1.5 crore.
The Hindu
21-05-2025
- The Hindu
Development of longer range BrahMos missile as well as sleeker BrahMos-NG variant on track
The development of a new, compact air launched version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, the BrahMos-NG (Next Generation), is at an advanced stage, while the range extension of the original BrahMos, much heavier than the air launched one, to 800 km is progressing well, defence sources said. The BrahMos air launched version was employed by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to devastating effect in the recent confrontation with Pakistan to strike that country's air bases. The range of BrahMos was originally capped at 290 km, in line with the limitations of the Missile Technology Control Regime. However, since India joined the grouping in June 2016, the range was extended to 450 km, and work to extend it to 800 km is underway. The maiden trial has been conducted and more trials will be undertaken, two officials independently confirmed. 'BrahMos-NG is a sleeker air launched missile than the current variant, and is in advanced stages of development. It should be ready for flight testing in a year or so,' a defence official said, adding it would be ready for production and induction in one to two years after that. The air launched version is lighter than the land and ship variants, and is currently mounted on the Sukhoi Su-30MKIs. Being much lighter, the BrahMos-NG can be mounted on other fighters, including the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas. In January 2020, the IAF inducted the 222 'Tiger Sharks' squadron consisting of modified Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, armed with air launched BrahMos missiles. Of the 272 Su-30MKI contracted by the IAF, 40 were initially modified to carry the air launched BrahMos. The BrahMos-NG will weigh 1.33 tonnes, about half the weight of the current air launched missile at 2.65 tonnes. With this, a Su-30MKI will be able to carry up to four BrahMos-NG missiles, while the LCA will be able to carry two missiles, as reported by The Hindu earlier. According to the IAF, the air launched BrahMos is a 2.5 tonne supersonic air to surface cruise missile with a range of more than 400 km and a maximum speed of 2.8 Mach. During the strikes by the Indian forces on Pakistani military targets from May 7-10, the IAF fired the air launched BrahMos from Su-30MKI jets for precision hits on air bases, and they could not be intercepted by Pakistan's Chinese origin air defence systems. Former Air Chief Marshal (ACM) V. R. Chaudhari has stated in the past that the forthcoming BrahMos-NG would be the IAF's 'primary deterrent weapon'. The ACM had said in 2023 that as the standoff unfolded on the northern borders in 2020, they had realised it could be used very effectively for land attacks. The IAF has since equipped more squadrons with Su-30MKI aircraft modified to launch BrahMos missiles. BrahMos is a joint venture between India and Russia, named after the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers, inducted in 2005 in an anti-ship variant. The missile is capable of being launched from land, sea, sub-sea, and air against surface and sea-based targets.
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
BrahMos used in Operation Sindoor against Pakistan: What we know about India's fastest cruise missile
India's BrahMos supersonic cruise missile has taken centre stage amid rising India-Pakistan tensions. Precision strikes launched on May 10 reportedly involved the BrahMos cruise missile. The missile, jointly developed by India and Russia, offers high speed, low radar detection, and pinpoint accuracy. With a range of up to 290 km in its standard version and advanced variants exceeding 800 km, BrahMos has emerged as a core asset in India's arsenal. Officials say it signals India's intent to defend decisively. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads "Just ask Pakistan": Yogi Adityanath on BrahMos power Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What is BrahMos and how does it work? BrahMos by the numbers Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads 3x velocity 2.5–3x range 3–4x seeker range 9x kinetic energy on impact Deployment timeline and variants BrahMos Extended Range: Up to 1,500 km range BrahMos-II Hypersonic: Designed to cruise at Mach 8 BrahMos-NG (Next Gen): A lighter version suitable for multiple platforms Strategic implications India's BrahMos supersonic cruise missile may have been used for the first time in live combat during precision strikes on Pakistani military facilities early on Saturday, 10 May. As reported by The Indian Express, the Indian Air Force targeted several strategic locations deep inside Pakistan in retaliation to attempted airspace targeted bases included Rafiqui, Murid, Nur Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, and Chunian. Additional damage was reported at Skardu, Bholari, Jacobabad, and Sargodha airfields. Radar sites at Pasrur and Sialkot were also hit. Though there is no formal confirmation from the defence ministry, multiple reports suggest that the BrahMos missile was likely among the systems deployed alongside SCALP and HAMMER a press briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri underlined that India remains committed to 'non-escalation', provided that Pakistan shows similar restraint. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi added that Pakistan's attacks on a healthcare centre and school premises in Srinagar, Avantipur, and Udhampur violated international norms. Indian officials dismissed claims from Islamabad about damage to Indian installations as 'malicious misinformation,' displaying time-stamped photos of Sirsa and Suratgarh bases to support their inaugurating the BrahMos Aerospace Integration and Testing Facility in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath acknowledged the missile's likely use in the weekend operation. He remarked, 'You must have seen a glimpse of the BrahMos missile during Operation Sindoor. If you didn't, then just ask the people of Pakistan about the power of the BrahMos missile.'The newly opened facility is expected to significantly boost India's defence manufacturing capacity and accelerate delivery timelines for new BrahMos BrahMos missile is a two-stage weapon developed jointly by India's DRDO and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyenia. Its name is a blend of two rivers — India's Brahmaputra and Russia's Moskva — symbolising the Indo-Russian missile launches with a solid-fuel booster which detaches after take-off. A liquid-fuelled ramjet engine then propels it at speeds approaching Mach 3. It can cruise at altitudes of up to 15 km and strike as low as 10 metres above the is designed to follow a "fire and forget" principle — once launched, no further guidance is required. The missile's low radar signature and high kinetic energy make it especially difficult to BrahMos missiles have a range of 290 km. However, recent trials have successfully tested extended range versions exceeding 450 km and reportedly up to 800 km. Some future variants aim to strike targets as far as 1,500 km capacity ranges between 200 to 300 kilograms of conventional high-explosive warheads. The missile can be launched from air, land, sea, and underwater to subsonic cruise missiles, BrahMos delivers:BrahMos was first tested on 12 June 2001. The Indian Navy inducted its first BrahMos system in 2005 aboard INS Rajput. The Indian Army followed in 2007 with its own regiments, and the Air Force later introduced an air-launched version from the Sukhoi-30MKI of 2025, two primary variants are in service: BrahMos Block I and BrahMos Air-Launched. Three more advanced variants are in development:Each unit reportedly costs around ₹34 crore, with an estimated ₹300 crore required to set up a production confirmed, the May 10 strikes would mark the BrahMos missile's combat debut — a significant shift in India's approach to regional threats. Its use underlines the country's readiness to employ advanced strategic assets when New Delhi continues to signal diplomatic caution, the message from the BrahMos launch is clear: India's defence strategy is no longer limited to deterrence.
