SOURCE: AFI
The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) deployment of the BrahMos-A supersonic cruise missile from its Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters during the May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict has redefined the role of multirole fighters as mini-bombers, delivering devastating precision strikes with unparalleled speed and range. The BrahMos-A’s success in crippling Pakistani air bases and terrorist infrastructures, as part of Operation Sindoor, underscores its transformative impact on India’s air campaign.
However, this achievement also highlights a critical gap in the IAF’s arsenal: the absence of a dedicated stealth bomber capable of delivering heavy payloads deep into enemy territory with minimal detectability. Leveraging the technological advancements of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program, India must prioritize the indigenous development of a 50-ton stealth bomber to enhance its strategic deterrence and ensure long-term air dominance.
The BrahMos-A, a 2.5-ton air-launched variant of the Indo-Russian BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, has proven to be a game-changer in the IAF’s arsenal. With a speed of Mach 2.8–3.0, a range of 400–500 km, and a 200–300 kg warhead, the missile combines precision, speed, and destructive power. Integrated with the Su-30MKI since its first successful test in November 2017, the BrahMos-A transforms the fighter into a mini-bomber capable of striking high-value targets with minimal exposure to enemy air defenses.
During Operation Sindoor, launched on May 6–7, 2025, in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Su-30MKIs armed with BrahMos-A missiles targeted nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). According to Indian defense sources, the missiles struck critical Pakistani air bases, including Nur Khan (Rawalpindi) and Sargodha, destroying runways, hangars, and suspected nuclear storage facilities. The BrahMos-A’s low-altitude flight profile, sea-skimming capability, and terminal maneuverability enabled it to evade Pakistan’s Chinese-supplied HQ-9BE surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems and JY-27A radars, ensuring near-perfect hit accuracy.
The Su-30MKI’s ability to carry one BrahMos-A (or potentially two with future upgrades) allowed it to deliver a 300 kg warhead—equivalent to a small tactical bomb—while maintaining its multirole flexibility. “BrahMos-A on Su-30MKI turned it into a mini-bomber, obliterating Pak bases with surgical precision. This is what air dominance looks like.” The strikes, which reportedly prompted Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations to seek a ceasefire on May 10, underscored the strategic impact of this capability, as analyzed by aviation expert Tom Cooper, who declared India’s air campaign a “clear-cut victory.”
While the Su-30MKI-BrahMos-A combination has proven highly effective, it is not without limitations. The Su-30MKI, a 4.5-generation multirole fighter, is not a dedicated bomber. Its payload capacity is restricted to one BrahMos-A per mission (requiring a centerline pylon), limiting the volume of ordnance it can deliver compared to traditional bombers. Each missile launch also demands significant fuel and reduces the aircraft’s maneuverability, potentially exposing it to enemy fighters or SAMs during egress.
Moreover, the Su-30MKI lacks the stealth characteristics needed to penetrate heavily defended airspace undetected. While its electronic warfare (EW) suite, including the EL/M-8222 jamming pod, and thrust-vectoring agility help evade threats like the PL-15E and HQ-9BE missiles, its large radar cross-section (RCS) makes it visible to modern AESA radars, such as Pakistan’s Chinese-supplied KLJ-7A. In the 2025 conflict, the IAF mitigated this by employing standoff tactics, launching BrahMos-A missiles from beyond the range of Pakistani defenses. However, against a peer adversary with advanced integrated air defense systems (IADS)—like China’s HQ-22 or S-400 equivalents—such tactics may be less effective.
The BrahMos-A itself, while formidable, is not designed for deep strategic strikes requiring massive payloads or nuclear warheads, capabilities typically associated with dedicated bombers. The IAF’s reliance on fighters for such roles highlights a doctrinal and capability gap, especially as regional threats evolve. Pakistan’s growing missile arsenal and China’s expanding air defenses necessitate a platform that can deliver heavy, stealthy, and long-range strikes to maintain India’s strategic edge.
The Case for a 50-Ton Stealth Bomber
The success of the BrahMos-A on the Su-30MKI demonstrates India’s ability to adapt existing platforms for strategic roles, but it also exposes the need for a dedicated stealth bomber. A 50-ton class bomber, powered by technologies developed for the AMCA—India’s indigenous 5th-generation stealth fighter—would address these limitations, offering unmatched payload capacity, stealth, and range. Here’s why the IAF should prioritize this development:
- Strategic Deterrence and Deep Strike Capability:
- A stealth bomber could carry a mix of heavy munitions, including the BrahMos-A, its hypersonic successor BrahMos-II, the Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM) with a 1,500 km range, and potentially nuclear warheads. With a payload capacity of 15–20 tons, it could deliver multiple missiles or bombs in a single sortie, unlike the Su-30MKI’s single BrahMos-A.
- Its range, potentially exceeding 5,000 km with aerial refueling, would enable strikes deep into enemy territory, targeting strategic assets like command centers, missile silos, or naval bases. This is critical against adversaries like China, whose PL-15 and HQ-22 systems pose significant threats to non-stealth platforms.
- Stealth and Survivability:
- The AMCA program, led by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), incorporates advanced stealth features, including a low RCS (estimated at 0.1–0.5 m²), serpentine air intakes, and radar-absorbent materials (RAM). A bomber derived from AMCA technology could achieve an even lower RCS, making it nearly invisible to enemy radars.
- Equipped with an AMCA-derived AESA radar (like the GaN-based Virupaksha) and an advanced EW suite, the bomber could jam enemy sensors and deploy decoys, enhancing its survivability in contested environments. This would allow it to penetrate IADS, unlike the Su-30MKI, which relies on standoff launches.
- AMCA Technology Synergy:
- The AMCA’s twin-engine configuration, powered by GE F414 engines (98 kN thrust each) or the planned indigenous 110 kN engine by 2030, provides a scalable propulsion base. A bomber could use four such engines or a larger derivative, delivering the thrust needed for a 50-ton platform.
- AMCA’s fly-by-wire controls, sensor fusion, and AI-based decision aids could be adapted for a bomber, reducing pilot workload and enabling complex missions. The internal weapons bay, a hallmark of 5th-generation designs, would ensure stealthy carriage of munitions, unlike the Su-30MKI’s external pylons.
- Cost and Self-Reliance:
- Developing a bomber using AMCA technologies would leverage existing R&D, reducing costs compared to a standalone program. The AMCA, expected to enter production by 2032, will establish a supply chain for stealth materials, avionics, and engines, which a bomber could share.
- Indigenous development aligns with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, reducing reliance on foreign platforms like the Russian Tu-22M3 or American B-21 Raider, which are neither available nor tailored to India’s needs. The success of DRDO’s Akash missile and BrahMos, as praised by John Spencer for outperforming Chinese systems in 2025, proves India’s capability to build world-class systems.
- Regional and Global Relevance:
- A stealth bomber would counter China’s H-20 stealth bomber, expected to enter service by 2027, which boasts a 10,000 km range and 45-ton payload. It would also deter Pakistan’s growing missile and drone capabilities, as seen in the 2025 conflict’s ineffective use of Chinese Byker YIHA III drones.
- Globally, it would position India as a major defense innovator, potentially attracting export interest from nations seeking alternatives to American, Russian, or Chinese platforms.
Developing a 50-ton stealth bomber is no small feat. Key challenges include:
- Engine Development: The AMCA’s 110 kN engine is still in early stages, and a bomber would require higher-thrust engines (150–200 kN class). Collaboration with Safran or Rolls-Royce, or scaling up DRDO’s Kaveri engine, could bridge this gap.
- Stealth Expertise: While AMCA provides a foundation, designing a larger airframe with consistent low RCS demands advanced computational modeling and testing facilities, requiring significant investment.
- Cost and Timeline: A bomber program could cost $10–15 billion and take 10–15 years. Prioritizing AMCA production while initiating a parallel bomber study could balance resource allocation.
- Doctrinal Shift: The IAF’s fighter-centric doctrine must evolve to integrate a strategic bomber, requiring new training, basing, and operational concepts.
To overcome these, India should establish a dedicated bomber task force under ADA, leveraging DRDO, HAL, and private sector players like Tata and Mahindra. A feasibility study by 2026, followed by a prototype by 2035, could align with AMCA’s induction, ensuring technological synergy. International partnerships, such as with France (for engine technology) or Israel (for avionics), could accelerate development while maintaining indigenous control.
The BrahMos-A’s success on the Su-30MKI has showcased India’s ability to adapt fighters for strategic roles, delivering devastating blows in the 2025 conflict. However, the limitations of this mini-bomber approach—payload constraints, lack of stealth, and vulnerability to advanced IADS—highlight the need for a dedicated stealth bomber. By harnessing AMCA technologies, India can develop a 50-ton platform that ensures deep-strike capability, stealth, and deterrence against regional rivals. As posts on X declare, “BrahMos on Su-30MKI is just the start. A stealth bomber is India’s next big leap!” With its proven track record in indigenous defense innovation, India is poised to build a strategic titan that redefines airpower in South Asia and beyond.
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