SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
After receiving a lukewarm response to the proposed BrahMos-2K Hypersonic cruise missile, BrahMos Aerospace, in partnership with Russia, is revisiting the missile’s technical specifications and pricing structure. The initial response highlighted concerns over the missile’s high developmental and post-production unit costs. As a result, both countries are engaged in technical discussions to refine the missile’s design, ensuring it can offer enhanced capabilities while striving to balance costs.
The BrahMos-2K was intended to be an Indian variant of the Russian 3M22 Zircon, a scramjet-powered hypersonic cruise missile. Initially, the missile was envisioned to reach speeds of Mach 6, with a range between 800-900 kilometres. However, the missile was not to carry nuclear warheads, positioning it as a conventional offensive weapon for the Indian Armed Forces.
However, following feedback from India’s tri-services, which expressed the need for an extended range, BrahMos Aerospace is now considering increasing the missile’s range to 1,300-1,500 kilometres. The goal is to enhance the missile’s strike potential, making it more capable in both conventional and strategic offensive roles. While these modifications will increase the missile’s range and capabilities, the price is expected to remain relatively high, though it may decrease slightly with increased localization of production.
The BrahMos-2K, with its extended range, could emerge as a more attractive option in the Indian defence market. However, it is expected to remain focused on conventional warfare, contrasting with DRDO’s Project Vishnu, which is being developed as a strategic hypersonic cruise missile designed for nuclear deterrence. The Vishnu program, likely to be operated by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), is intended for more critical, long-range strategic uses.
Despite its higher cost, the BrahMos-2K could provide significant strategic and tactical advantages, offering a more immediate operational capability for conventional offensive operations. By increasing its range and optimizing its local production, the missile may become a powerful tool in India’s defence arsenal while contributing to the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative for indigenous defence systems.
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