SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In a significant boost to India’s push for self-reliance in defense, the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Navy are poised to integrate the BrahMos-NG (Next Generation) supersonic cruise missile into their Rafale fleets, following a breakthrough agreement with Dassault Aviation. The French manufacturer has acceded to India’s demand for greater integration of indigenous weapon systems, marking a pivotal step in enhancing the Rafale’s role in India’s multi-platform strategy. With trials of the 1.3-ton BrahMos-NG scheduled for 2026 and production planned at a new facility in Lucknow, the missile is set to become a cornerstone of India’s aerial firepower, arming not only the Rafale but also the Su-30MKI and Tejas Mk1A.
The BrahMos-NG, a lighter and more compact version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, weighs 1.3–1.4 tons and measures 6 meters in length with a 50 cm diameter—making it 50% lighter and 3 meters shorter than its predecessor while retaining a 290 km range and Mach 3.5 speed. Developed by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between India’s DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya, the missile is designed for multi-platform deployment, including air, land, sea, and submarine launches. Its reduced radar cross-section (RCS) and advanced seeker with AESA radar enhance its stealth and precision, making it a formidable weapon for modern warfare. The IAF has already committed to procuring 400 BrahMos-NG missiles at a cost of 8,000 crore, with deliveries expected within five years of production commencement.
Dassault’s agreement to integrate Indian weapon systems into the Rafale-M (Navy) and Rafale C (IAF) variants addresses long-standing concerns about the platform’s reliance on French munitions, such as the Exocet missile, which has a limited 70 km range. The BrahMos-NG’s 290 km range and supersonic speed offer a significant upgrade, enabling Rafale jets to engage enemy ships and land targets from safer distances, beyond the reach of most air defense systems. This move aligns with India’s broader strategy to enhance the survivability and lethality of its Rafale fleet, particularly for the Navy’s 26 Rafale-M jets, which will operate from INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant, and the IAF’s 36 Rafale C jets stationed at Ambala and Hasimara air bases.
The integration process will begin after the BrahMos-NG’s initial trials on the Su-30MKI, slated for late 2025 or early 2026, as confirmed by BrahMos Export Director Pravin Pathak at the World Defense Show in February 2024. The Su-30MKI, capable of carrying three BrahMos-NG missiles due to its heavy payload capacity, will serve as the testbed for the missile’s air-launched variant. Following successful trials, the IAF plans to extend integration to the Tejas Mk1A and Rafale fleets, making the Rafale the third aircraft type to be equipped with the missile. The Tejas Mk1A, with deliveries of 83 jets starting in 2025, will carry one BrahMos-NG, while the Rafale’s configuration is expected to support a single missile in initial phases, potentially scaling to twin load-outs as seen in earlier plans for the Rafale with the Scalp missile.
Production of the BrahMos-NG will take place at a new 200-acre facility in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, which is currently under construction. Once operational in 2026, the plant is expected to produce 80–100 missiles annually, supporting both domestic needs and export commitments, such as the recent delivery of BrahMos systems to the Philippines. However, the timeline for Rafale integration may face challenges. The Su-30MKI’s BrahMos-A integration, completed in 2017, was a complex process involving mechanical, electrical, and software modifications by HAL and BrahMos Aerospace, delayed by technology transfer issues. Similar hurdles could arise with the Rafale, given the differing communication protocols between the French aircraft and the Indo-Russian missile, as noted in discussions on defense forums. A proposed solution involves developing intermediary hardware to bridge data communication, with strict agreements to protect intellectual property—a model that could expedite the process but requires careful coordination.
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