It has been reported that the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has approved the acquisition of more than 200 BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and associated systems that will be fitted on Indian warships, with the significant capability enhancement for the navy expected to cost around Rs 19,000 crore.
CCS is a cabinet committee of the Government of India that discusses, debates and is the final decision-making body on senior appointments in the national security apparatus, defence policy and expenditure, and generally all matters of India’s national security.
These weapons will be a mix of BrahMos missiles that can strike targets at 290 km and its extended range variant with a range of almost 500 km, the officials said, asking not to be named.
The contract is expected to be signed before the end of the financial year 2023-24.
Noteworthy, BrahMos is the fastest cruise missile in the world with a speed of Mach 2.8, nearly three times the speed of sound. BrahMos variants can be launched from land, air and sea, and all three variants are in service in the Indian armed forces.
Also, India is set to deliver BrahMos missiles to the Philippines in March, two years after the two countries signed a deal worth almost $375 million to equip the Philippine Marines with three batteries of the missiles.
This is the first export order for the BrahMos missile developed by India and Russia.
Currently, only IAF’s Sukhoi-30MKI fighters are equipped with the air-launched version of the BrahMos, a 2.5-tonne missile. The missile’s land and naval variants are 500 kg heavier than the current air version.
The smaller missile, BrahMos-next generation, is expected to weigh 1.2 tonnes and be more lethal than the current air-launched version.
India is also laying the groundwork to develop an even longer-range BrahMos missile, capable of striking targets more than 800 km away.
