Why BrahMos matters
Ajey Lele is a research fellow at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), New Delhi. The author of two books – ‘Bio-Weapons: The Genie in the Bottle’ and ‘Weather and Warfare’ -- also contributes regularly to various websites, newspapers and national and international journals.
India successfully test fired the land attack version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile on March 4.
An earlier test trial on January 20 had failed, embarrassing the Indo-Russian BrahMos (named after Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers) team. In fact, it would be premature to declare even this test as a total success, because mapping the missile’s performance will take a while.
The missile, test fired at a firing range in Pokhran in the Rajasthan Desert in a vertical-launch configuration, successfully hit its designated target within two and half minutes. The 290 km range missile can effectively engage ground targets from an altitude as low as 10 meters. It carries a 300 kg conventional warhead and moves at almost three times the speed of sound (2.8 Mach).
Image: A set of BrahMos cruise missiles seen during a display. At speeds of Mach 2.5 to 2.8, the missile is one of the world's fastest cruise missiles and is about three and a half times faster than the USA's subsonic Harpoon cruise missile. (Courtesy PIB. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.)
In the earlier test, it had failed to engage the target due to what was later described as a ‘software glitch’. This time, that glitch seems to have been resolved.
This Block-II BrahMos missile is the latest land attack version of the missile developed for the Indian Army. These missiles fly at very low altitudes and have the ability to evade enemy radars and air-defence systems.
This is different from much talked about ‘missile defence system’ which the US is using to demonstrate its strength globally, much to the annoyance of Russia and other nations. Missile defence systems are capable of providing partial protection against ballistic missiles. But cruise missiles are comparatively uncomplicated and inexpensive precision strike weapons.
The March 4 test was a more advanced version of the world's fastest surface-to-surface cruise missile. Such missiles can be used to target and hit specific buildings in a large cluster of buildings.
Counter-terror: The state gets some teeth
The Indian Army inducted the first battery this land-fired version of the BrahMos in June 2007. The anti-ship naval version of this missile has been integrated on the destroyer INS Rajput, and will also be mounted on the three 7,000 tonne Kolkata class destroyers.
Image: File picture of BrahMos missiles. (Copyright AFP. Any unauthorised reproduction is prohibited.)
This Indo-Russian BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited was set up in February 1998 to produce cruise missiles. India wanted a mid-range cruise missile, but Russia, being a signatory to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), could not share the technology. As per MTCR guidelines, the payload/ range ratio cannot exceed 500kg/300km level.
The BrahMos missile is considered a unique system, because it is much faster than subsonic cruise missiles like the US-made Harpoons and Tomahawks. China has its anti-ship cruise missiles such as HY-4 (C-401) and YJ-82 (C-802) which touch Mach 2, and a few of them are operational with the Pakistan Navy.
But China also has a different category of cruise missiles called DH-10, which is a land attack cruise missile with an estimated range of 2000 km. Pakistan too has its Babur missiles which can carry nuclear warheads up to a distance of 700 km, but the speeds are less than Mach 1.
BrahMos missiles are essentially being developed as anti-ship missiles, but they can also be configured for land-based targets. The Russian Navy is also expected to integrate these missiles into their system after carrying out necessary modifications in their ships.
It is expected that the Indian Air Force would have airborne anti-ship and land attack variants of this missile operational by 2012 with trials being conducted during 2011. There are also plans of developing submarine-launched versions. India has already developed a submarine-launched supersonic missile, a modification of the BrahMos cruise missile, something previously limited to countries like the United States, France and Russia.
Obama’s next test: Space
Apart from the strategic aspects, this Indo-Russian joint venture has a major commercial angle. The company proposes to grow into a Rs 1000-crore venture within the next five years. A year ago, it integrated a new company into their setup called BATL (BrahMos Aerospace Thiruvananthapuram Limited). This unit already has major customers within the state like the DRDO (Defence Research Development Organization), DAE (Department of Atomic Energy) and ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation). It also expects to garner business from other countries. BATL is entering into the business of robotics, and was instrumental in some work related to India’s Chandrayaan-1 mission. It is expected as ISRO’s space activities increase, BATL will also get more business.
The BrahMos missile could become one of India’s major contributions to the world arms export market between 2010-2020. The system is superior to other available platforms on three counts: The speed, touching almost 3 Mach, its modular design which allows modifications for launch from virtually any platform, and the affordable price. Now BrahMos intends to take a next higher step and would be developing hypersonic cruise missiles capable of Mach 5 to Mach 7.
While there were reports that more than 10 states have already evinced interest in purchasing this missile, further details were unavailable.
Unfortunately, the BrahMos success story is not replicated in other Indo-Russian defence deals and joint projects. Some movement was seen towards the end of 2008, just ahead of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s visit. Discussions were held on the joint development of Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft, multi-role transport aircraft, T-90 tanks, and airborne warning and control systems (AWACS). India has cleared the purchase of 80 medium-lift helicopters for the Indian Air Force from Russia.
Also, hectic deliberations continued over the controversial purchase of the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov. During the first week of December 2008 the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) agreed to re-negotiate the price of the Gorshkov. Russia, citing cost overruns, is asking for an additional $2 billion over the contracted price of $1.5 billion. India has already paid an initial $500 million to facilitate work on the carrier’s overhaul. The wrangling over the cost is likely to lead to significant delays in the acquisition of the refurbished carrier.
Lessons from the satellite crash
There is a need for the both the states to bring in the professionalism shown by BrahMos in addressing various issues related with joint production and military supplies. The recent test proves that the company is a quick learner and is not afraid of failures.
Today, India is in a very precarious situation where issues like terrorism necessitate investing in low end products like automatic guns and bulletproof vests. At the same time, it has to remain prepared for modern day conventional conflicts. As the Taliban gains ground in Pakistan, the chances of nuclear weapons falling into the wrong hands increase.
Given that, the BrahMos has more than symbolic relevance.
http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14868296
Ajey Lele is a research fellow at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), New Delhi. The author of two books – ‘Bio-Weapons: The Genie in the Bottle’ and ‘Weather and Warfare’ -- also contributes regularly to various websites, newspapers and national and international journals.
India successfully test fired the land attack version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile on March 4.
An earlier test trial on January 20 had failed, embarrassing the Indo-Russian BrahMos (named after Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers) team. In fact, it would be premature to declare even this test as a total success, because mapping the missile’s performance will take a while.
The missile, test fired at a firing range in Pokhran in the Rajasthan Desert in a vertical-launch configuration, successfully hit its designated target within two and half minutes. The 290 km range missile can effectively engage ground targets from an altitude as low as 10 meters. It carries a 300 kg conventional warhead and moves at almost three times the speed of sound (2.8 Mach).
Image: A set of BrahMos cruise missiles seen during a display. At speeds of Mach 2.5 to 2.8, the missile is one of the world's fastest cruise missiles and is about three and a half times faster than the USA's subsonic Harpoon cruise missile. (Courtesy PIB. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.)
In the earlier test, it had failed to engage the target due to what was later described as a ‘software glitch’. This time, that glitch seems to have been resolved.
This Block-II BrahMos missile is the latest land attack version of the missile developed for the Indian Army. These missiles fly at very low altitudes and have the ability to evade enemy radars and air-defence systems.
This is different from much talked about ‘missile defence system’ which the US is using to demonstrate its strength globally, much to the annoyance of Russia and other nations. Missile defence systems are capable of providing partial protection against ballistic missiles. But cruise missiles are comparatively uncomplicated and inexpensive precision strike weapons.
The March 4 test was a more advanced version of the world's fastest surface-to-surface cruise missile. Such missiles can be used to target and hit specific buildings in a large cluster of buildings.
Counter-terror: The state gets some teeth
The Indian Army inducted the first battery this land-fired version of the BrahMos in June 2007. The anti-ship naval version of this missile has been integrated on the destroyer INS Rajput, and will also be mounted on the three 7,000 tonne Kolkata class destroyers.
Image: File picture of BrahMos missiles. (Copyright AFP. Any unauthorised reproduction is prohibited.)
This Indo-Russian BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited was set up in February 1998 to produce cruise missiles. India wanted a mid-range cruise missile, but Russia, being a signatory to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), could not share the technology. As per MTCR guidelines, the payload/ range ratio cannot exceed 500kg/300km level.
The BrahMos missile is considered a unique system, because it is much faster than subsonic cruise missiles like the US-made Harpoons and Tomahawks. China has its anti-ship cruise missiles such as HY-4 (C-401) and YJ-82 (C-802) which touch Mach 2, and a few of them are operational with the Pakistan Navy.
But China also has a different category of cruise missiles called DH-10, which is a land attack cruise missile with an estimated range of 2000 km. Pakistan too has its Babur missiles which can carry nuclear warheads up to a distance of 700 km, but the speeds are less than Mach 1.
BrahMos missiles are essentially being developed as anti-ship missiles, but they can also be configured for land-based targets. The Russian Navy is also expected to integrate these missiles into their system after carrying out necessary modifications in their ships.
It is expected that the Indian Air Force would have airborne anti-ship and land attack variants of this missile operational by 2012 with trials being conducted during 2011. There are also plans of developing submarine-launched versions. India has already developed a submarine-launched supersonic missile, a modification of the BrahMos cruise missile, something previously limited to countries like the United States, France and Russia.
Obama’s next test: Space
Apart from the strategic aspects, this Indo-Russian joint venture has a major commercial angle. The company proposes to grow into a Rs 1000-crore venture within the next five years. A year ago, it integrated a new company into their setup called BATL (BrahMos Aerospace Thiruvananthapuram Limited). This unit already has major customers within the state like the DRDO (Defence Research Development Organization), DAE (Department of Atomic Energy) and ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation). It also expects to garner business from other countries. BATL is entering into the business of robotics, and was instrumental in some work related to India’s Chandrayaan-1 mission. It is expected as ISRO’s space activities increase, BATL will also get more business.
The BrahMos missile could become one of India’s major contributions to the world arms export market between 2010-2020. The system is superior to other available platforms on three counts: The speed, touching almost 3 Mach, its modular design which allows modifications for launch from virtually any platform, and the affordable price. Now BrahMos intends to take a next higher step and would be developing hypersonic cruise missiles capable of Mach 5 to Mach 7.
While there were reports that more than 10 states have already evinced interest in purchasing this missile, further details were unavailable.
Unfortunately, the BrahMos success story is not replicated in other Indo-Russian defence deals and joint projects. Some movement was seen towards the end of 2008, just ahead of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s visit. Discussions were held on the joint development of Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft, multi-role transport aircraft, T-90 tanks, and airborne warning and control systems (AWACS). India has cleared the purchase of 80 medium-lift helicopters for the Indian Air Force from Russia.
Also, hectic deliberations continued over the controversial purchase of the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov. During the first week of December 2008 the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) agreed to re-negotiate the price of the Gorshkov. Russia, citing cost overruns, is asking for an additional $2 billion over the contracted price of $1.5 billion. India has already paid an initial $500 million to facilitate work on the carrier’s overhaul. The wrangling over the cost is likely to lead to significant delays in the acquisition of the refurbished carrier.
Lessons from the satellite crash
There is a need for the both the states to bring in the professionalism shown by BrahMos in addressing various issues related with joint production and military supplies. The recent test proves that the company is a quick learner and is not afraid of failures.
Today, India is in a very precarious situation where issues like terrorism necessitate investing in low end products like automatic guns and bulletproof vests. At the same time, it has to remain prepared for modern day conventional conflicts. As the Taliban gains ground in Pakistan, the chances of nuclear weapons falling into the wrong hands increase.
Given that, the BrahMos has more than symbolic relevance.
http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14868296
