What is BrahMos Missile?

The BrahMos missile is a type of supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from various platforms like submarines, ships, aeroplanes, or land. It is currently the fastest supersonic missile in the world and was developed by a partnership between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya, forming BrahMos Aerospace. The missile is named after two rivers, the Brahmaputra in India and the Moskva in Russia.

Why is the Brahmos missile in News?

Recently, the Indian Navy successfully test-fired the ship-launched version of the BrahMos missile. The missile test was conducted using an indigenous seeker and booster in the Arabian Sea. Notably, its anti-ship version was jointly test-fired by the Andaman and Nicobar Command and the Navy in April 2022.

What is a Brahmos missile?

It is a medium-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile. Ramjet engines are air-breathing jet engines. They do not produce thrust when they are held stationary, that is, no ram air. Ram air is the air that is forced to enter an aperture.

Cruise missiles are guided missiles. This means the path of the missile can be changed during its flight.

Based on speed the missiles are categorised as supersonic, hypersonic, and subsonic. Supersonic missiles are those missiles that fly at 2-3 Mach speed. Hypersonic missiles fly at 5 Mach speed and subsonic missiles fly at 0.8 Mach speed.

Role of MTCR in Brahmos development

In 2016, India joined the MTCR – Missile Technology Control Regime. With this, we increased the operation range of Brahmos to 800 km. Before MTCR, it wasn’t possible to increase the range of MTCR because Russia was a member of MTCR and India wasn’t. According to MTCR, Russia cannot export missiles that are or range more than 300 km and payload of more than 500 kg to a non-MTCR country. MTCR was established in 1987 by the G7 countries.

Month: Current Affairs - March, 2023

Category: Defence Current Affairs