BRAHMOS
- The BrahMos missiles, named after a fusion of the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers, are crafted, engineered, and manufactured by BrahMos Aerospace. This entity is a collaborative venture between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India and Russia's Mashinostroyenia.
- Multiple iterations of BrahMos exist, enabling deployment from land, naval vessels, submarines, and Sukhoi-30 fighter jets, all of which have undergone successful testing previously. The Indian Navy integrated the initial ship-launched BrahMos versions in 2005, followed by the land-based system adopted by the Indian Army in 2007.
- Structured with a two-stage composition, the BrahMos missile utilizes a solid propellant booster as its primary stage and a liquid ramjet as the secondary stage.
- Classified as cruise missiles, such as BrahMos, these armaments belong to the category known as 'standoff range weapons,' capable of being launched from a distance sufficient to evade defensive retaliation from the opposing party.
- These armaments constitute a standard part of the military inventory in numerous global armed forces. The ongoing BrahMos trials involve versions boasting an extended range of approximately 400 kilometers, surpassing their initial 290-kilometer reach, with further iterations with even greater ranges currently undergoing development
- The land-based BrahMos system comprises mobile launchers, each equipped with three missiles capable of near-simultaneous firing. These systems have been strategically positioned along India’s land borders across multiple theaters.
- The land attack variant of BrahMos achieves speeds of 2.8 Mach and now possesses enhanced precision to strike targets up to 400 kilometers away. Advanced iterations with ranges exceeding 1,000 kilometers and speeds reaching 5 Mach are reportedly in the developmental pipeline.
- Deployed since 2005, the Indian Navy integrated BrahMos onto its forefront warships, enabling the capability to engage sea-based targets beyond the radar's reach.
- Successfully employed in sea-to-sea and sea-to-land modes, the naval variant launches single units or salvos of up to eight missiles at 2.5-second intervals, effectively neutralizing groups of frigates equipped with modern missile defense systems.
- Serving as a pivotal maritime offensive weapon, BrahMos significantly elevates the naval fleet's capacity to engage distant surface targets.
- In November 22, 2017, the BrahMos achieved its inaugural successful flight test from the IAF's Sukhoi-30MKI fighter aircraft, subsequently undergoing multiple successful tests.
- These Sukhoi-30s, armed with BrahMos and possessing a range of 1,500 kilometers sans mid-air refueling, stand as a critical strategic deterrent along both land borders and in the strategically vital Indian Ocean Region. The IAF plans to integrate BrahMos with 40 Sukhoi-30 fighter jets stationed across various bases.
- Designed for submarine deployment, the BrahMos variant operates from depths of approximately 50 meters below the water surface. Stored in canisters, this missile launches vertically from a submarine's pressure hull, employing distinct settings for flights within and outside the water.
- Successfully tested in March 2013 from a submerged platform near Visakhapatnam, this version underscores its operational underwater capability
- On November 24 2020, the Indian Army achieved a successful launch of its BrahMos missile from Car Nicobar Islands, utilizing a 'top-attack' configuration to strike a target in the Bay of Bengal.
- This launch marks the beginning of a series of missile tests scheduled in the forthcoming days, showcasing India's tactical cruise missile triad. Following Tuesday's test, both the Army and the IAF conducted separate tests on Wednesday, with additional tests, including those involving Naval versions, scheduled for the future.
- A retired IAF commander highlighted the significance of these tests, noting, "Although tests of land, sea, and air-launched BrahMos have been conducted previously, conducting them successively, particularly in the Indian Ocean Region, is uncommon.
- These tests notably reinforce India's strong strategic stance in response to developments along the LAC and China's aspirations within the Indian Ocean Region. Furthermore, these live tests hold immense importance in terms of readiness.
- Each test aids service units in refining their procedures, methodologies, and allows for necessary adjustments. The consecutive involvement of all three services also signifies a tri-service integration, showcasing the synchronized operation of land, air, and sea assets to demonstrate unified deterrence."
With these back-to-back tests, BrahMos follow the series of tests of over 15 missiles belonging to a vast spectrum of purposes and ranges in September and October. BrahMos too were tested as part this flurry of tests.
On September 30 2020, BrahMos surface-to-surface supersonic Land-Attack Cruise Missile (LACM) featuring an indigenous booster and airframe section along with many other ‘Made in India’ sub-systems was flight tested from ITR. On October 17, the Naval version of the BrahMos was successfully test-fired from Indian Navy’s indigenously-built stealth destroyer INS Chennai, hitting a target in the Arabian Sea. On October 30, a Sukhoi jet that took off from a base in Punjab, hit a target in Bay of Bengal
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MCQs on BrahMos 1.Which rivers' names combine to form the term "BrahMos" for the missile system? A) Brahmaputra and Mississippi B) Brahmaputra and Moskva C) Ganges and Moskva D) Ganges and Brahmaputra 2.What is the joint venture responsible for the development and production of BrahMos missiles? A) DRDO and NASA B) ISRO and Roscosmos C) DRDO and Mashinostroyenia D) HAL and Boeing 3.The land-based BrahMos missile system typically carries how many missiles per mobile autonomous launcher? A) 1 B) 2 C) 3 D) 4 4.Which branch of the Indian Armed Forces started inducting BrahMos onto its frontline warships from 2005? A) Indian Army B) Indian Navy C) Indian Air Force D) Indian Coast Guard 5.The successful flight test of BrahMos from the IAF's Sukhoi-30MKI fighter aircraft took place against a target located in which region? A) Arabian Sea B) Bay of Bengal C) South China Sea D) Indian Ocean 6.BrahMos is categorized as a: A) Subsonic cruise missile B) Hypersonic ballistic missile C) Supersonic cruise missile D) Intercontinental ballistic missile Answers:
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Previous Year Questions
1.What is “Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)”, sometimes seen in the news? (UPSC CSE 2018) (a) An Israeli radar system Answer: (c) Mains 1.How is S-400 air defence system technically superior to any other system presently available in the world? (UPSC CSE Mains GS III 2021) |
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What is BrahMos?
- BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile developed jointly by India and Russia. It's named after the Brahmaputra River in India and the Moskva River in Russia.
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Who developed BrahMos?
- BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyenia, is responsible for developing and producing the missile.
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What are the different versions of BrahMos?
- There are various versions of BrahMos designed for different platforms:
- Land-based systems
- Ship-based systems
- Air-launched systems (integrated with Sukhoi-30MKI aircraft)
- Submarine-launched systems
- There are various versions of BrahMos designed for different platforms:
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What are the key features of BrahMos?
- BrahMos is a two-stage missile with a solid propellant booster as the first stage and a liquid ramjet as the second stage.
- It operates at speeds of around 2.8 to 3 Mach, making it one of the fastest cruise missiles in the world.
- It has a range of approximately 400 kilometers (though newer versions with extended ranges are in development).
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What is the significance of BrahMos in India's defense strategy?
- BrahMos significantly enhances India's strategic capabilities due to its versatility in being launched from different platforms (land, air, sea, and submarines).
- It strengthens India's deterrence posture and provides a potent offensive capability against both land and sea-based targets.
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Where has BrahMos been deployed or integrated within the Indian Armed Forces?
- BrahMos systems have been deployed along India’s land borders, integrated into the Indian Army and Navy since the mid-2000s. The Indian Air Force has also integrated BrahMos onto its Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets.
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What are the recent developments or tests related to BrahMos?
- Recent tests have showcased BrahMos's capabilities in different configurations, including 'top-attack' configurations, successful launches from various platforms, and ongoing efforts to increase its range and speed.
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How does BrahMos contribute to India's military preparedness and security?
- BrahMos significantly bolsters India's deterrence capabilities and offers a technologically advanced and potent defense asset to counter regional threats and safeguard strategic interests
