Bad news for Pakistan, China as India decides to fast-track development and deployment of this missile, its name is…, range is….
The BrahMos missile, often dubbed India’s ‘Brahmastra,’ inflicted heavy damage on several key strategic sites in Pakistan, used for anti-India activities, during Operation Sindoor. Now, in a big boost to India’s defense power, the extended-range BrahMos missile, with a range of 800 km, was successfully tested for the first time in 2025. The missile’s combat debut during Operation Sindoor in May 2025 demonstrated its ability strong enough to break through Pakistan’s Chinese-made air defenses. This success has led to faster plans to develop and produce more of these missiles, marking a new step in India’s military strength.
According to the Indian Defence Research Wing(IDRW) report, the 800 km-range variant of the BrahMos missile, a joint venture between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia, was validated in developmental trials earlier this year, with sources confirming its readiness by April 2025.
This longer-range version is a big upgrade from the original 290 km range. It became possible after India joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in 2016, which relaxed export restrictions on long-range missile technology.
The BrahMos missile was used for the first time in a real operation during Operation Sindoor. This was India’s response to a Pakistan-backed terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025. The Indian Air Force launched around 15 BrahMos missiles, mostly from Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets, targeting 11 out of Pakistan’s 13 major airbases. Key sites hit included Noor Khan in Rawalpindi, Rafiqui in Shorkot, and Murid in Chakwal. The strikes damaged runways, control centers, and air defense systems. Missile debris found in Rajasthan confirmed the weapon’s use. A key factor behind the BrahMos missile’s success was its ability to bypass Pakistan’s Chinese-supplied air defense systems, such as the HQ-9 missile batteries and YLC-18 radars, reported IDRW.
As per the IDRW report, the BrahMos missile’s success on the battlefield has accelerated India’s efforts in its development and production. The recently opened BrahMos Aerospace Integration and Testing Facility in Lucknow, part of the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor, will be crucial in this process. This cutting-edge facility, completed in just three and a half years with an investment of Rs 300 crore, will handle the assembly and testing of both existing and next-generation (NG) BrahMos models. The lighter NG variant, weighing 1,290 kg and designed to be deployed on smaller aircraft like the MiG-29, Mirage 2000, and Tejas, is expected to begin trials in 2026, the report stated.
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