BrahMos

Infobox Weapon
is_missile=yes
name=BrahMos


caption=BrahMos and the launch canister on display at the International Maritime Defence Show, IMDS-2007, St. Petersburg, Russia
origin= RUS / IND
type=Cruise missile
used_by=
manufacturer=Joint venture, Federal State Unitary Enterprise NPO Mashinostroeyenia (Russia) and Defense Research and Development Organization (BrahMos Corp, India)
unit_cost=US$ 2.73 millionFact|date=February 2008
propellant=
production_date=
service=November 2006
engine=Two-stage integrated Rocket/Ramjet
engine_power=
weight=3000 kg
2500 kg (air-launched)
length=8.4 m
height=
diameter=0.6 m
wingspan=
speed=Mach 2.5-2.8
vehicle_range=290 km
ceiling=
altitude=
filling=300 kg Conventional semi-armour-piercing
guidance=
detonation=
launch_platform=Ship, submarine, aircraft and land-based mobile launchers.Indian missiles

BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land. The acronym BrahMos is perceived as the confluence of the two nations represented by two great rivers, the Brahmaputra of India and the Moskva of Russia. It is a joint venture between India's Defense Research and Development Organization and Russia's NPO Mashinostroeyenia who have together formed the BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited. Propulsion is based on the Russian Yakhont missile, and guidance has been developed by BrahMos Corp. At speeds of Mach 2.5 to 2.8, it is the world's fastest cruise missile and is about three and a half times faster than the American subsonic Harpoon cruise missile.

Development and Manufacture

The BrahMos has been developed as a joint venture between the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) of India and the Federal State Unitary Enterprise NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOM) of Russia under BrahMos Aerospace. The missile is named after two rivers, the Brahmaputra and the Moskva.

Between late 2004 and early 2008, the missile has undergone several tests from variety of platforms including a land based test from Pokhran desert, in which the "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. [cite web | url = http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1275872 | title = BrahMos cruise missile test fired from naval ship | accessdate= 2008-03-05]

Description

[
thumb|right|250px|12th_test_of_the_army_version_of_BrahMos_at_a_test_range_in_Rajasthan] BrahMos claims to have the capability of attacking surface targets as low as 10 meters in altitude. It can gain a speed of Mach 2.8, and has a maximum range of 290 km.ref|GlobalsecBMS The ship-launched and land-based missiles can carry a 200 kg warhead, whereas the aircraft-launched variant (BrahMos A) can carry a 300 kg warhead. It has a two-stage propulsion system, with a solid-propellant rocket for initial acceleration and a liquid-fueled ramjet responsible for sustained supersonic cruise. Air-breathing ramjet propulsion is much more fuel-efficient than rocket propulsion, giving the BrahMos a longer range than a pure rocket-powered missile would achieve.Fact|date=February 2007

The high speed of the BrahMos likely gives it better target-penetration characteristics than lighter subsonic cruise-missiles such as the Tomahawk. [ [http://www.brahmos.com/inthenews80.html Cruise Control] ] Being twice as heavy and almost four times faster than the Tomahawk, the BrahMos has almost 32 times the initial kinetic energy of a Tomahawk missile (although it pays for this by having only 3/5 the payload and a fraction of the range despite weighing twice as much, suggesting a different tactical paradigm).

Although BrahMos is primarily an anti-ship missile, it can also engage land based targets. It can be launched either in a vertical or inclined position and is capable of covering targets over a 360 degree horizon. The BrahMos missile has an identical configuration for land, sea, and sub-sea platforms. The air-launched version has a smaller booster and additional tail fins for added stability during launch. The BrahMos is currently being configured for aerial deployment with the Su-30MKI as its carrier.

Operators

India and Russia intend to make 2,000 BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles over the next ten years through their joint venture company, and nearly 50 percent of them are expected to be exported to friendly countries. [ [http://www.mosnews.com/news/2006/07/21/thousandmissiles.shtml Mosnews.com ] ]

Indian Navy

The missile is in service with the Indian Navy. The missile is fitted on the Rajput class of destroyers. The submarine launched version of the missile is ready for testing. The missile will be either tested on a Kilo class submarine of the Indian Navy or will be tested in Russia. [ [http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/29/stories/2007012915470900.htm India gearing up for BrahMos submarine tests] ] The land attack version of the missile was fired from Destroyer INS Rajput and the missile hit and destroyed the right target among a group of targets. [ [http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=36060 BrahMos naval version tested successfully] ]

Indian Army

The missile was successfully tested with new capabilities for the Indian Army in the deserts of Rajasthan. It was inducted into the army on June 212007 [ [http://en.rian.ru/world/20070621/67584681.html Indian Army commissions BrahMos cruise missiles] ] [ [http://www.india-defence.com/reports-3345 Delivery of BrahMos cruise missiles to Indian Army begins] ] .

Indian Air Force

The air launched version for the Indian Air Force is ready for testing. [ [http://en.rian.ru/world/20080620/111457741.html India, Russia develop airborne supersonic cruise missile] ] An expert committee from the DRDO and the Indian Air Force (IAF) has ruled out any structural modification to the advanced Su-30MKI if it is to be fitted with the supersonic BrahMos. [ [http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/newsrf.php?newsid=7856 :: Bharat-Rakshak.com - Indian Military News Headlines :: ] ]

Russian Navy

According to sources the BrahMos could be fitted to the updated Gorshkov class of frigate's which will be entering the Russian navy soon. [ [http://warfare.ru/?linkid=2544&catid=270 warfare.ru Gorshkov Class] ] Although it is stated that Russia had not originally planned on using the BrahMos system it may still consider doing so under pressure from India. The defense ministry reported that due to the size and hull specifications of the BrahMos, few if any of its new ships will be able to accommodate it. [ [http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080620/111481295.html New Russian frigate may be fitted with BrahMos cruise missiles] ]

BrahMos II

thumb|right|250px|BrahMos_at_the_Indian_Republic Day ParadeBAPL is contemplating a hypersonic Mach 5 version of the missile, named as the BrahMos II. BrahMos II will be the first hypersonic cruise missile and is expected to be ready by 2012-13. [ [http://english.pravda.ru/russia/economics/94740-0/ BrahMos to develop first hypersonic cruise missile in 5 years] ] The laboratory testing of the missile has started. [ [http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080049716 Hypersonic BrahMos undergoes successful lab test] ]

Another, longer ranged variant is also being considered, although joint development would not be possible, since Russia is a signatory to the MTCR.

Notes

# The publicized maximum range was determined partly by Russia's and India's desire to avoid a perceived breach of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), which restricts technology transfer relating to missiles with a range longer than 300 km, and other proliferation rules - although India is not a signatory to the treaty. [ [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/brahmos.htm PJ-10 BrahMos] – At Globalsecurity.org, retrieved June 2005]

See also

*Agni missile
*Prithvi missile
*Dhanush (missile)
*Sagarika

References

External links

* [http://www.brahmos.com/home.html BrahMos Missile official website]
* [http://week.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/theWeekContent.do?sectionName=Current+Events&contentId=2350668&programId=1073754900&pageTypeId=1073754893&contentType=EDITORIAL&BV_ID=@@@ The Brahmastra]
* [http://www.expresscomputeronline.com/20050228/market03.shtml The IT in India’s cruise missile]
* [http://www.india-defence.com/specifications/missiles/48 BrahMos specification] – At India Defence
* [http://www.india-defence.com/reports/375#274 BrahMos production status]
* [http://www.en.rian.ru/infographics/20071011/83467144.html Features and advantages of the BrahMos supersonic missile. INFOgraphics]
* [http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Indian_Army_To_Get_Worlds_First_Supersonic_Cruise_Missiles_999.html Indian Army To Get World's First Supersonic Cruise Missiles] (SpaceDaily:SpaceWar) Jul 26, 2006
* [http://img45.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc63&
]
* [http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=22536 Supersonic cruise missile BrahMos inducted into Indian defense forces] - Govt. of India press release - 29 Nov 2006
* [http://indiatoday.digitaltoday.in/first-test-of-brahmos-land-attack-variant-from-the-sea.html First test of BrahMos land-attack variant from the sea]

Video

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0np6B33YM30 BrahMos video]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1qqYGjFnQo BrahMos part1-Headlines Today]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBdf73YAZ8c BrahMos part2-Headlines Today]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1qqYGjFnQo Precision Target hit]