Deadlier 800-km range variant of BrahMos missile to be inducted by end of 2027: Report

The upgraded 800-kilometre range variant of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, a substantial evolution over the current 450-km model, offering much longer reach, better efficiency, and improved precision, will be inducted in the next few years.

According to a Times of India report, tests are being conducted for the 800-km variant of the deadly missile that has a modified ramjet engine and refined guidance system, to ensure that the weapon is ready for induction by the end of 2027. 

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TOI quoted a source as saying that the 800-km Brahmos is "more or less developed in terms of the modifications to its ramjet engine."

As the missile integrates advanced navigation systems, some more tests are required to evaluate the efficiency of the its combination of inertial navigation system and external global navigation satellite systems to ensure high accuracy, resilience and resistance to jamming, according to the source.

The Indian Navy could upgrade existing 450 km BrahMos missiles to this variant with tweaks in the software and fire control systems.

"With the basic missile and launcher remaining the same, the Navy and Army will first begin inducting the 800-km missile. The air-launched version will take slightly longer," TOI quoted the source as saying.

The BrahMos missile, developed jointly by India and Russia, originally had an operational range of 290 km, which was later extended to 450 km. These missiles are deployable from land-based mobile launchers, naval ships, submarines, and fighter jets such as the Su-30MKI of the Indian Air Force. BrahMos has been successfully employed in combat, notably during Operation Sindoor.

Defence