SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
BrahMos Aerospace is making significant strides in the development of its next-generation air-launched cruise missile, BrahMos NG. Having completed the preliminary design phase, the organization is now poised to commence the metal-cutting exercise, marking the beginning of manufacturing the first units of the missile. These units will be utilized for developmental trials and further testing.
Atul Dinkar Rane, CEO and MD of BrahMos Aerospace confirmed that BrahMos NG will be specifically developed as an air-launched cruise missile. The Su-30MKI aircraft, which has already been integrated with the larger BrahMos-A ALCM variant, will serve as the platform for testing BrahMos NG. This decision leverages the existing capabilities of the Su-30MKI and facilitates the smooth transition to the next-generation missile.
Rane expressed the organization’s broader vision of equipping the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas with BrahMos NG and the Astra missile, both of which are completely Indian-developed technologies. This integrated package aims to enhance the capabilities of the LCA Tejas and establish it as a formidable indigenous fighter aircraft. The focus on BrahMos NG initially aligns with the organization’s strategic business perspective, as the development of hypersonic technology is still in the research and development phase.
While BrahMos NG will be the primary focus in the near term, Rane affirmed that the organization will venture into hypersonic technology once it becomes more mature and stable. Currently, the development of hypersonic cruise weapons remains a research and development endeavour, with no fully hypersonic cruise weapon inducted into operational forces.
An additional advantage of successfully integrating BrahMos NG onto the LCA Tejas is the potential for future deployments on other Western platforms. This achievement would demonstrate the adaptability and compatibility of the missile with a broader range of aircraft, expanding its market potential and export prospects.
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