SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
BrahMos Aerospace is gearing up for a pivotal test of the BrahMos-NG Submarine-Launched Cruise Missile (SLCM), a next-generation weapon designed to enhance the Indian Navy’s strike capabilities under Project-75I (P-75I). This advanced missile, derived from the BrahMos-NG Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) variant, is being developed for launch from standard 533mm torpedo tubes, making it a versatile addition to India’s future submarines. As the P-75I program moves toward production, the BrahMos-NG SLCM is set to become a cornerstone of India’s naval deterrence strategy.
The BrahMos-NG SLCM is a compact, supersonic cruise missile based on the next-generation BrahMos-NG platform, itself an evolution of the renowned BrahMos missile. With a weight of approximately 1.5 tons and a range of 400-600 km, the SLCM retains the BrahMos family’s signature features: speeds exceeding Mach 3.5, precision guidance, and the ability to engage both land and naval targets. Its design for torpedo tube launches ensures compatibility with the submarines planned under P-75I, enabling stealthy, long-range strikes from underwater.
The SLCM variant builds on the BrahMos-NG ALCM, which is optimized for air platforms like fighter jets. By adapting this technology for submarine use, BrahMos Aerospace is delivering a weapon that combines compactness with devastating firepower, ideal for the confined launch systems of modern submarines.
The SLCM variant builds on the BrahMos-NG ALCM, which is optimized for air platforms like fighter jets. By adapting this technology for submarine use, BrahMos Aerospace is delivering a weapon that combines compactness with devastating firepower, ideal for the confined launch systems of modern submarines.
BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between India’s DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya, has confirmed that the BrahMos-NG SLCM is in an advanced stage of development. A new round of testing, scheduled in the coming months, will validate the missile’s underwater launch capabilities, stability, and integration with submarine systems. Earlier trials of the original BrahMos SLCM concept proved the feasibility of torpedo tube launches, and the NG variant aims to enhance performance with a lighter, more efficient design.
“The BrahMos-NG SLCM is a critical step toward equipping our submarines with world-class strike capabilities,” a BrahMos Aerospace spokesperson said. “The upcoming tests will confirm its operational readiness, aligning with the Navy’s strategic requirements.”
The P-75I program, which aims to build six advanced diesel-electric submarines with air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems, is a flagship initiative under India’s “Make in India” campaign. These submarines, designed for stealth, endurance, and multi-role operations, will be ideal platforms for the BrahMos-NG SLCM. The missile’s torpedo tube compatibility ensures it can be deployed across various submarine designs being evaluated for P-75I, including those from foreign partners like Naval Group (France), ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (Germany), and Navantia (Spain).
The integration of the BrahMos-NG SLCM will enable P-75I submarines to conduct precision strikes against high-value targets, such as enemy ships, coastal installations, and strategic assets, while remaining submerged. This capability will significantly enhance India’s ability to project power in the Indo-Pacific, a region of growing strategic importance.
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