Missile BrahMos

The BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile developed through an Indian and Russian joint venture established in 1995. The system is based on the P-800 Oniks and its name is a portmanteau of the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers. Initial flight testing commenced in June 2001.

The missile utilizes a two-stage propulsion system consisting of a solid-propellant rocket booster for initial acceleration and a liquid-fueled ramjet for sustained supersonic cruise. It is a fire-and-forget weapon employing inertial navigation and multi-GNSS for mid-course guidance, transitioning to active radar homing for the terminal phase. The system is designed for a circular error probable of one meter. It is capable of sea-skimming at low altitudes and can execute high-speed steep-dive maneuvers to strike hardened or naval targets. Warhead options include conventional semi-armour-piercing or nuclear payloads. Variants are configured for launch from land-based mobile autonomous launchers, surface warships, submarines, and fighter aircraft. The air-launched version features a modified booster and additional tail fins for stability during release.

The system is widely deployed across the Indian Armed Forces. The Indian Army operates several regiments equipped with different iterations of the missile, including versions optimized for desert and mountain warfare. The Indian Navy utilizes the missile as a primary strike weapon on destroyers, frigates, and corvettes. The Indian Air Force maintains a dedicated squadron of modified Su-30MKI fighters for aerial delivery. The Philippine Marine Corps operates the system in a shore-based anti-ship role, forming the basis of its coastal defense capabilities.

Combat use occurred during the 2025 India–Pakistan conflict. In May 2025, the missile was employed in Operation Sindoor against targets inside Pakistan and in precision strikes against eleven Pakistani airbases, including Nur Khan, Sargodha, and Skardu. The system was also deployed to eastern Ladakh during the 2020-2021 China-India skirmishes.

Notable incidents include a 2009 test failure resulting from a navigation software error and a 2021 test failure linked to the propulsion system. In March 2022, a technical malfunction led to the accidental firing of a missile that entered Pakistani airspace and crashed near Mian Channu. Subsequent reports indicated the missile followed its programmed trajectory without interception.