BrahMos Missile- Extended Range BrahMos Flight-Tested

BrahMos Missile- Relevance for UPSC Exam

• GS Paper 3: Science and Technology- Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

BrahMos Missile- Context

• Recently, the Supersonic cruise missile BrahMos with increased indigenous content and improved performance were successfully flight-tested from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.
• Earlier this month, an extended range sea-to-sea variant of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was test-fired from stealth-guided missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam.

Extended Range BrahMos Flight-Tested: Key Points

• Advance Technology: BrahMos missile was equipped with advanced indigenous technologies and followed a modified optimal trajectory for enhanced efficiency and improved performance.
  • The Brahmos missile with the modified control system has been fine-tuned to achieve an enhanced capability.
• Launching Agency: Extended Range BrahMos Flight launch was conducted by Brahmos Aerospace in close coordination with DRDO teams.

BrahMos Missile- Key Points

• About: BrahMos is a two-stage air to the surface supersonic cruise missile, jointly developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation of India (DRDO) and the NPOM of Russia.
• Brahmos Name: BrahMos derives its name from two rivers- the rivers the Brahmaputra (India) and Moskva (Russia).
• Stages in Brahmos Missile: Two stages of the Brahmos missile include-
  • First Stage: A Solid Propellant Engine. It is separated after BrahMos missile reaches MACH-1 or Supersonic speed.
  • Second Stage: Liquid Ramjet. This stage takes the BrahMos missile close to MACH 3 in cruise phase.
• Warhead Carrying Capacity: BrahMos missile has a carrying capacity of 250-300 kgs. BrahMos missile is capable of carrying a regular warhead as well as a nuclear warhead.

PRALAY: Successful launch of surface-to-surface missile

BrahMos Missile- Key Features

• Multiplatform Missile: BrahMos Missile is a multi-platform missile that can be launched from ships, land, submarines and aircraft platforms.
• All-Weather Multi-Capability Missile: BrahMos Missile is multi capability missile with pinpoint accuracy. BrahMos Missile works in both day and night irrespective of the weather conditions.
• Fire and Forgets” Principle: BrahMos Missile once launched, does not require further guidance because it works on the Fire and Forgets” Principle.
• Speed: BrahMos Missile can attain a speed of Mach 2.8, which is 3 times more than the speed of sound. This makes BrahMos one of the fastest operationally deployed missiles in the world.
• Range: Flight rage of the BrahMos Missile is about 300 Km.
  • India became a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in 2016.
  • With this, the range of BrahMos Missile is planned to be extended to 450 km and to 600km at a later stage.

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