So here is something I wanted to discuss with you all as I was curious. I remember reading on wikipedia that the 9M97E missile of the S-400 system can be used as a scout, using its radar seeker to locate air borne targets beyond the horizon of the ground radar, and sending the target information to the command and control vehicle through data link. Although that part seems to have been removed from the article since.
This made me think- Brahmos is soon going to have an SAR seeker. With this seeker, Brahmos would be able to form an image of the target area in its onboard computer, allowing it to more effectively locate targets amid ground clutter. So is it possible to develop a variant of brahmos, in which the warhead is replaced with equipment for satellite data link? This variant could reach airbases and other instillations deep inside enemy territory, and send their SAR images back through data link.
You might think this could also be done by drones. But since drones have to fly back to base, their effective range is cut by half. Brahmos on the other hand, will be able to utilize its full range (which could ultimately be over 800 km), allowing it to image instillations much further away. Another advantage brahmos would have is its speed, allowing it to reach the target location and send back images in a matter of minutes, even if the target location is 800 km away. Subsonic drones can't match that.
Suppose brahmos sends SAR images of an airbase 800 km away, and the SAR images show multiple enemy aircraft on the tarmac (like stratrgic bombers). A number of conventional brahmos missiles could then be launched, and owing to their speed, they could reach the air base and hit the aircraft on the tarmac, before they are able to take off. The whole process of the scout brahmos reaching the base, sending back the images, conventional brahmos missiles reaching the base and hitting the aircraft, would be completed in a matter of minutes.
The valuable intelligence obtained from the SAR images could also be advantageous in helping with battle planning. And this strategy would also help with better utilization of missiles. We would have to launch just one scout missile at each enemy airbase, and find out exactly how many aircraft are present and in which airbases. Than the number of conventional missiles launched at those bases will depend on the number of aircraft found in them. What do you all think? Is this something doable and worthwhile?