BrahMos Missile: Range, Speed of Worlds’s Fastest Supersonic Cruise Missile

BrahMos is a two-stage medium-range supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarine, ship, aircraft, and land-based Mobile Autonomous Launchers (MAL). The missile is launched from a Transport-Launch Canister (TLC) which also acts as a storage and transport container.

BrahMos Missile Programme of India is a very important topic for UPSC CSE Exam. Questions from this topic can be asked both in UPSC Prelims Exam and UPSC Mains General Studies Paper 3. In this article, we’ll cover in detail various aspects of the BrahMos Missile important for the UPSC CSE Exam.

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BrahMos Missile – Key Facts 

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BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile developed by BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited of India that can be launched from submarine, ship, aircraft, and land-based Mobile Autonomous Launchers (MAL). The missile is launched from a Transport-Launch Canister (TLC) which also acts as a storage and transport container.

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Working of BrahMos Missile

The BrahMos Missile operates through a two-stage propulsion mechanism, combining speed with accuracy. In the first stage, a solid-propellant booster rapidly accelerates the missile to supersonic speeds and lifts it to a suitable altitude. This booster is jettisoned after burnout.

In the second stage, a liquid-fueled ramjet engine takes over, maintaining sustained high-speed flight up to Mach 2.8–3.0. The missile follows a semi-ballistic trajectory, and its path is adjusted mid-course using an Inertial Navigation System (INS) and satellite navigation such as GPS/GLONASS. In the final stage, it activates an active radar seeker for terminal homing, achieving a circular error probability (CEP) of just 1 to 2 meters.

This high-speed, low-altitude cruise combined with sea-skimming or top-attack profiles makes it extremely hard to intercept. It can execute sharp maneuvers before impact, and its precision strike capability enables it to neutralize both static and mobile targets across land and sea.

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Formation of BrahMos Aerospace

The BrahMos Missile project is developed by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyeniya. The name "BrahMos" is derived from the Brahmaputra (India) and Moskva (Russia) rivers. The partnership was established in 1998, and the first test of the missile occurred in 2001. The joint collaboration has led to a range of missile systems under one umbrella.

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The BrahMos missile project has a rich background rooted in post-Cold War defense cooperation, marking a strategic milestone in India-Russia military collaboration and indigenous missile development.

• The most important component of India’s defense program is the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme also called IGMDP launched in the year 1983 under the leadership of Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam.
• The IGMDP project was aimed to achieve self-reliance in the modern defense sector and for this product a comprehensive range of missiles including short-range and intermediate-range ones.
• The IGMDP comprised a five missile system:
  • Two surface-to-surface missiles – AGNI and PRITHVI
  • Two surface-to-air missiles – TRISHUL and AKASH
  • One anti-tank missile – NAG
• In the 1990s, after the Gulf War, the Indian leadership realized the need to further equip the country with the Cruise Missile System. The result of this need was the establishment of BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited in India, as a joint venture between India and Russia, through an Inter-Governmental Agreement signed in the year 1998.
• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India and the Federal State Unitary Enterprise NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOM) of Russia are the joint venture partners of BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited in India.
• The acronym BrahMos is derived from the names of the two great rivers of India and Russia namely Brahmaputra of India and Moskva of Russia.
• The aim of this joint venture was to design, develop, manufacture and market a supersonic cruise missile system called BrahMos.

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Technical Specification of BrahMos Missile

This section outlines the core features and capabilities that make the BrahMos missile one of the most advanced supersonic cruise missiles in the world.

• BrahMos is a Medium Range Cruise Missile
• It is a Two Stage Missile:
  • 1st stage is a Solid Propellant Booster Engine that brings it to supersonic speed and then gets separated.
  • 2nd stage is the Liquid Ramjet which takes the missile closer to Mach 3 Speed in the cruise phase
• BrahMos Missile Speed is Mach 2.8 to 3.0.
• Initial range of BrahMos Missile was 290km but after India became a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) BrahMos Missile Range was increased to 450kms.
• Universal for multiple platforms that is it can be launched from land, aircraft, ships, and submarines.
• It is based on Stealth Technology and Advanced Guidance System.
• It operates on the Fire and Forgets Principle.
• It has a low radar signature
• It has a long flight range with a variety of flight trajectories.
• It has pinpoint accuracy and high lethal power.

BrahMos – World’s Fastest Missile

BrahMos is the fastest missile in the world in operation. The missile travels at speeds of Mach 2.8 to 3.0. The Solid Propellant Booster Engine or the first stage brings the missile to supersonic speed and then gets separated and Liquid Ramjet or the second stage takes the missile closer to Mach 3 Speed in the cruise phase.

BrahMos Missile Series

The BrahMos missile series includes a range of strategic missiles that are supersonic and now entering the hypersonic domain. These include:

• BrahMos (Original): Supersonic missile with 290–450 km range.
• BrahMos-ER: Extended range version (800+ km).
• BrahMos-NG (Next Gen): Lightweight, portable missile for versatile platforms.
• BrahMos-II: Upcoming hypersonic cruise missile (Mach 7+).

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BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile

The BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile is the result of a joint venture between India and Russia. It is the world's fastest operational supersonic cruise missile, capable of reaching speeds of Mach 2.8 to 3.0. It travels almost three times the speed of sound and can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads. The missile uses ramjet propulsion for sustained high-speed flight, making it difficult for enemy defense systems to intercept.

It is equipped with high-precision guidance systems such as Inertial Navigation System (INS), GPS, and terminal active radar homing. The missile can operate in a variety of terrains and weather conditions, and it can be launched from multiple platforms: ships, land-based launchers, submarines, and aircraft. The warhead weighs between 200 to 300 kg, and the missile has an operational range of 290 km in standard form and up to 800+ km in its extended-range version.

BrahMos-NG (Next Generation)

BrahMos-NG, or BrahMos Next Generation, is an advanced miniaturized version of the original BrahMos missile. It is designed to be lighter, smaller, and faster to deploy, making it suitable for a broader range of platforms, including lighter fighter jets like LCA Tejas, submarines with limited vertical space, and mobile ground platforms.

The missile retains the supersonic speed of Mach 2.8 but weighs approximately 1.6 tonnes and measures around 6 meters in length. It will be easier to integrate on platforms that cannot carry the standard BrahMos due to size or weight limitations. It will feature advanced seeker technology, improved electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM), and enhanced maneuverability.

Its first test flight is expected in 2026, and mass production is targeted between 2027 and 2028. Once operational, BrahMos-NG will complement the existing BrahMos arsenal and offer flexibility in deployment, especially in high-speed, low-visibility combat scenarios. It will support India's vision of a modular and adaptive missile inventory suitable for rapid force projection.

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Major Milestones Of BrahMos Missile

The BrahMos missile program has witnessed several key breakthroughs over the years, establishing itself as a cornerstone of India's strategic missile arsenal and defense exports.

Versions of BrahMos

The BrahMos missile family includes multiple versions tailored to different launch platforms and mission profiles, showcasing India's advancements in speed, range, and platform compatibility.

Significance of BrahMos Missile

The BrahMos Missile holds immense strategic and technological value for India, making it a key pillar in national security and defense modernization.

• Strategic Force Multiplier: Serves as a force multiplier, enabling India to deploy rapid, accurate strike capabilities across all domains with minimal warning to adversaries and high mission flexibility.
• Precision and Targeting Power: Offers precise targeting of high-value enemy assets, even in dense or defended zones, minimizing collateral damage and maximizing mission success.
• Tri-Service Compatibility: Supports tri-service deployment—Army, Navy, and Air Force—ensuring uniform operational synergy, platform interoperability, and battlefield coverage.
• Deterrence and Strategic Superiority: Acts as a deterrent against hostile neighbors, elevating India’s strategic posture across land and maritime frontiers.
• National Security Shield: Enhances India's Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) network by supplementing existing offensive and defensive capabilities for layered national protection.
• Indigenous Innovation and Self-Reliance: Advances self-reliance under the Make in India mission, fostering indigenous manufacturing, technology development, and defense exports.
• Global Defense Diplomacy: Strengthens India’s influence in the Indo-Pacific through defense cooperation, regional deterrence, and export deals like those with the Philippines and Indonesia.

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International Collaborations and Exports of BrahMos Missiles

India has significantly expanded its defense diplomacy through the export of the BrahMos missile system, reflecting both technological maturity and strategic outreach.

Philippines

• In January 2022, India signed a $375 million deal with the Philippines for the export of the BrahMos shore-based anti-ship missile system.
• This was India’s first major defense export involving a strategic missile system.
• The deal includes launchers, radar, and command-and-control systems.
• The first batch was delivered in April 2024, followed by a second delivery in April 2025.
• The missiles will be deployed by the Philippine Marine Corps to enhance coastal defense and deter maritime threats.

Indonesia

• India is close to signing a $450 million agreement with Indonesia for the BrahMos missile system.
• The deal is under advanced negotiation and would make Indonesia the second ASEAN country to procure BrahMos.
• The agreement is expected to include land and sea-based versions, customized to Indonesian defense requirements.
• This potential export further enhances India’s defense ties in the Indo-Pacific and demonstrates confidence in BrahMos' effectiveness and reliability.
• Close to finalizing a $450 million deal.
• Highlights India's emergence in global arms exports.

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BrahMos vs Other Missiles

The BrahMos missile stands out globally when compared to other cruise and ballistic missile systems in terms of speed, versatility, and platform adaptability, making it a benchmark in modern missile technology.

Conclusion

The age of fighting wars with aircraft shooting bombs is over. Modern warfare has risen to a sophisticated and higher level. The induction of BrahMos in the Indian Navy, Army, and Airforce give India a great advantage in modern-day warfare. IGMDP laid the blueprint for the Missile Defence System of India and later induction of BrahMos further enhanced the capabilities of the Indian Missile Defence System.

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