SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
India and Russia are poised to resume high-level discussions for the co-development of the BrahMos-II, a next-generation hypersonic cruise missile aimed at achieving speeds of Mach 6 or higher, potentially drawing inspiration from Russia’s 3M22 Zircon (also spelled Tsirkon), a scramjet-powered, nuclear-capable hypersonic missile. This ambitious project, initially proposed by BrahMos Aerospace nearly a decade ago, faced hurdles due to Russia’s reluctance to share advanced hypersonic technology and concerns from the Indian Armed Forces over the missile’s high per-unit cost. However, a renewed global focus on hypersonic weaponry has reignited interest in the program, prompting both nations to explore collaboration to bolster their strategic capabilities.
The BrahMos missile, a product of the Indo-Russian joint venture BrahMos Aerospace, established in 1998, is the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile, capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 3.5 and ranges of 290–800 km, depending on the variant. Deployed across the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, it has proven its versatility with land, sea, air, and submarine-launched configurations. The missile’s precision, stealthy radar signature, and “fire-and-forget” capability have made it a cornerstone of India’s defense strategy, with over 130 successful tests and operational use in exercises like Operation Sindoor in May 2025.
The BrahMos-II, also known as BrahMos-2 or BrahMos Mark II, represents a quantum leap forward. Envisioned to achieve speeds of Mach 6–8 and a range of up to 1,500 km, it is designed to leverage scramjet engine technology, enabling sustained hypersonic flight. Named in honor of former Indian President and missile scientist Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the BrahMos-II aims to maintain India’s edge in cruise missile technology while drawing on the proven design of Russia’s 3M22 Zircon. The Zircon, a nuclear-capable hypersonic cruise missile with a reported top speed of Mach 9 and a range of 1,000 km, has been successfully deployed by the Russian Navy, making it a potent model for the BrahMos-II.
The BrahMos-II program was first announced in 2008, with initial plans for testing by 2015. However, the project faced significant delays due to multiple factors. Russia, a signatory to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), was initially constrained from sharing technology for missiles exceeding a 300 km range, a limitation eased after India joined the MTCR in 2014. Additionally, Russia’s hesitance to transfer critical scramjet engine technology, which powers the Zircon, posed a major roadblock. The high cost of developing and producing a hypersonic missile—potentially double that of the current BrahMos—further dampened enthusiasm, with the Indian Armed Forces expressing concerns over the financial feasibility of large-scale acquisition.
By mid-2024, reports indicated that the BrahMos-II program, also referred to as BrahMos-2K, had been temporarily shelved due to these technical and financial hurdles. The Indian Armed Forces prioritized upgrades to the existing BrahMos, focusing on enhancing its ramjet engine to approach near-hypersonic speeds of Mach 5, a more cost-effective alternative to a full-fledged hypersonic system. However, the global race for hypersonic weapons, led by nations like Russia, China, and the United States, has prompted a strategic reassessment.
The BrahMos-II is expected to incorporate a scramjet engine, a significant advancement over the ramjet propulsion used in the current BrahMos. Unlike ramjets, scramjets operate efficiently at hypersonic speeds (above Mach 5), using atmospheric oxygen to sustain combustion, thus reducing the need for onboard oxidizers and enabling longer ranges and higher speeds. The missile is projected to weigh approximately 1.33 tonnes, about half the weight of the air-launched BrahMos-A (2.65 tonnes), making it compatible with a broader range of platforms, including the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.
DRDO’s recent success in testing a scramjet engine combustor for over 1,000 seconds on April 25, 2025, marks a significant milestone in India’s hypersonic ambitions. Former DRDO Director General Dr. Sudhir Kumar Mishra emphasized that this indigenous technology could be integrated into BrahMos-II, reducing reliance on Russian systems and aligning with India’s “Make in India” initiative. While the missile may draw inspiration from the Zircon, DRDO’s advancements suggest a hybrid approach, blending indigenous innovation with selective technology transfers.
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