Article Posted on : - Oct 18, 2022

BrahMos Aerospace at DefExpo 2022 showcasing the BRAHMOS missile in various configurations. Photo: BNS

NEW DELHI (BNS): BrahMos Aerospace is a major attraction at the 12th edition of biennial DefExpo 2022, being organised at Gandhinagar, Gujarat from 18 – 22 October 2022.

BrahMos is showcasing the BRAHMOS missile in various configurations, including the land-based weapon complex, ship-based weapon complex, underwater version and air-version along with the BRAHMOS air-borne launcher and equipment manufactured by BATL for Defence and Space applications including systems and sub-systems manufactured by various industries associated with BrahMos.

BRAHMOS is the world’s fastest, one of its kind, two-staged, universal supersonic cruise missile with top speed of Mach 3 which operates on the ‘Fire and Forget Principle’. Stealth technology and guidance system with advanced embedded software provides the missile with cutting edge features.

Today BrahMos Aerospace enjoys a unique place in the world of defence. BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile is capable of hitting sea and land based targets beyond radar horizons. The missile with pinpoint accuracy has successfully demonstrated its speed, precision and power a number of times from naval ships, Mobile Autonomous Launchers and fighter aircraft.

The supersonic cruise missile has evolved over the years and added many more variants - from sea-to-land, sea-to-sea, land-to-land, land-to-sea, sub-sea-to-land, sub-sea to sea and air-to-land configurations. The missile can be fired either from static, mobile platforms (land & sea) or fighter aircraft, in solo or salvo mode. This multiplicity makes the weapon all the more versatile in taking on the enemy anywhere, anytime.

Many frontline warships of Indian Navy and artillery regiments of Indian Army are equipped with BRAHMOS missiles. The Indian Air Force's frontline fighter aircraft Sukhoi-30MKI, after being modified to carry 2.5 tonne missile integrated with half a tonne launcher, successfully demonstrated BRAHMOS missile’s firing capability.

BRAHMOS has also achieved historic milestones in the flagship “Make in India” programme by successfully indigenizing major sub-systems such as booster, nose cap, canister, fuel management system and other major non-metallic airframe components taking the Indian contribution to more than seventy percent. All launcher systems for the weapon are also being manufactured domestically. 100% of ground support equipment for the weapon complex are also being made in India.

The potential BRAHMOS, developed as a fusion of great scientific minds from India and Russia, has grown from strength to strength over the years and added new capabilities to meet divergent war scenarios. The JV has successfully involved defence industries of India and Russia in producing the BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile system. It has also brought together a number of competent defence firms and laboratories from both the partnering countries in developing and producing different sub-systems for the universal missile system which has rendered a unique strength to the Indian Armed Forces.

BrahMos Aerospace prides itself in possessing a full-fledged design centre, an Industrial Consortium for producing different sub-systems, a world-class integration, and check-out facilities with stringent quality control.

BRAHMOS attained another historic milestone when on 28 January 2022 BrahMos Aerospace and Republic of Philippines signed a multi-million dollars defence contract to supply Shore-based Anti-Ship Missile System (SBASMS) to the Armed Forces of Philippines (AFP). This historic export deal has certainly paved the way for more such orders for BRAHMOS.

The universal BRAHMOS with its “multi-role, multi-platform, multi-mission” attributes has emerged as the foremost weapon system for modern-day network-centric warfare operations. Today, with numerous launches from various platforms, each achieving technological prowess with continuous upgrades, BRAHMOS is a system par excellence.