Why in News?
Recently, the Ministry of Defense signed a contract worth Rs 1700 crore with BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd to purchase additional dual-role capable BrahMos missiles for the Indian Navy.
- Dual role capability refers to the use of BrahMos missiles for land as well as anti-ship attacks. The Indian armed forces currently employ all three variants of the BrahMos missile, enabling them to launch it from land, air, and sea.
About
- It is a supersonic cruise missile.
- It is a joint venture between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India and NPOM of Russia.
- The missile receives its name from the rivers Brahmaputra and Moskva.
Features
- It is a two-stage missile with a solid propellant engine in the first stage and a liquid ramjet in the second.
- The designers have developed two variants of the system for the roles of Anti-Ship and Land-Attack.
- The BrahMos missile holds the distinction of currently being one of the fastest cruise missiles deployed operationally. It achieves a speed of Mach 2.8, which is nearly three times the speed of sound.
- It has a launch weight of 2,200-3,000 kg.
- It operates on the “Fire and Forgets” principle, adopting varieties of flights on its way to the target.
- BrahMos incorporates stealth technology, which designers have equipped it with to make the missile less visible to radar and other detection methods.
- It has an inertial navigation system (INS) for use against ship targets, and an INS/Global Positioning System for use against land targets.
What is the Significance of the Deal?
- Induction of these dual-role capable missiles is going to significantly enhance the operational capability of Indian Navy fleet assets.
- The following contact is going to provide an important boost to indigenous production of the critical weapon system.
- We expect that the indigenous industry’s active participation will enhance the ammunition capabilities with the BrahMos missiles.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about This topic:
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India developed the BrahMos missiles in a joint venture with NPOM of Russia, resulting in the creation of supersonic cruise missiles. The BrahMos missiles, named after the rivers Brahmaputra and Moskva, possess the capability of being launched from land, air, and sea.
BrahMos missiles are two-stage missiles with a solid propellant engine in the first stage and a liquid ramjet in the second stage. They have two variants for anti-ship and land-attack roles. BrahMos missiles are one of the fastest cruise missiles with a speed of Mach 2.8, making them nearly three times faster than the speed of sound. They have stealth technology for reduced radar visibility and are equipped with navigation systems for targeting ships and land-based targets.
The recent contract signed between the Ministry of Defense and BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd for the purchase of additional BrahMos missiles is significant for multiple reasons. It will significantly enhance the operational capability of the Indian Navy’s fleet assets as these missiles have dual-role capability for land and anti-ship attacks. The contract also boosts indigenous production of this critical weapon system, contributing to the country’s self-reliance in defense manufacturing. Furthermore, we expect that the involvement of the indigenous industry in the production of BrahMos missiles will enhance the ammunition supply chain.
BrahMos missiles operate on the “Fire and Forgets” principle, meaning they are self-guided and require minimal external input after launch. They have autonomous navigation systems and are capable of adapting their flight path to reach the target. The missiles can engage targets with precision and high-speed impact.
Read also:- Cruise Missiles vs Ballistic Missiles
