Purchase of a Rs 19K cr Next-Gen BrahMos for the Indian Navy approved

The next-generation BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles have been approved for purchase by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), enabling Indian navy vessels to hit enemy targets further away.

At a cost of over Rs 19,000 crore, the CCS approved the purchase of 200 such missiles and related equipment for the Indian Navy, according to sources.

The missile, known as the BrahMos Extended Range (ER), is capable of firing from a vessel about 500 kilometers away. According to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) rules, the current BrahMos variant, which has already been integrated into the tri-services, has a maximum range of 290 kilometers.

In June 2016, India became a member of the MTCR, enabling range extension up to 300 km. According to the sources, the ER variant of the missile has been tested aboard Indian warships in the front lines and will be the standard armament on platforms going forward.

The joint venture between Russia and India, BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd, manufactures supersonic cruise missiles that may be fired from land, sea, or underwater platforms. The BrahMos missile travels at 2.8 Mach, or almost three times the speed of sound, on its flight.

In the next months, it is anticipated that the official deal for the purchase of the missiles will be finalized. Additionally, India exports BrahMos missiles. India and the Philippines signed a USD 375 million agreement in January 2022 for the delivery of three missile batteries. Next month is when supplies to the nation in Southeast Asia are expected to start. A few other nations, such as Argentina, have shown interest in purchasing Indian-made BrahMos missiles.

Air Force radars with high-power

The CCS has approved agreements worth over Rs 13,000 crore to buy new close-quarters weapon systems and high-power radars from Indian company Larsen & Toubro in order to improve the IAF’s capabilities.