BrahMos Missiles | 23 Sep 2022
Why in News?
Recently, the Ministry of Defense has signed a Rs 1700 crore contract with BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd to buy additional dual-role capable BrahMos missiles for the Indian Navy.
- Dual role capability refers to the use of BrahMos missiles for land as well as anti-ship attacks. They can be launched from land, air and sea, and all three variants are in service in the Indian armed forces.
What is the Significance of the Deal?
- Induction of these dual-role capable missiles is going to significantly enhance the operational capability of Indian Navy fleet assets.
- The following contact is going to provide an important boost to indigenous production of the critical weapon system.
- The Brahmos missiles are also expected to enhance ammunition with the active participation of indigenous industry.
What are the BrahMos Missile?
- The BrahMos missile, an Indo-Russian joint venture, has a range of 290 km and is the fastest cruise missile in the world with a top speed of Mach 2.8 (nearly three times the speed of sound).
- BrahMos is named for the rivers Brahmaputra and Moskva.
- It is a two-stage (solid propellant engine in the first stage and liquid ramjet in second) missile.
- It is a multiplatform missile i.e., it can be launched from land, air, and sea and multi capability missile with pinpoint accuracy that works in both day and night irrespective of the weather conditions.
- It operates on the "Fire and Forgets" principle i.e it does not require further guidance after launch.
What are the Recent Development?
- In April 2022, an anti-ship version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test-fired jointly by the Indian Navy and the Andaman and Nicobar Command.
- In January 2022, an extended range sea-to-sea variant of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was test fired from stealth guided missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam.
UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)
Prelims
Q. What is “Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)”, sometimes seen in the news? (2018)
(a) An Israeli radar system
(b) India’s indigenous anti-missile programme
(c) An American anti-missile system
(d) A defence collaboration between Japan and South Korea.
Ans: (c)
Exp:
- Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) is an American anti-missile system designed to intercept and destroy short and medium-range ballistic missiles during their “terminal” phase of flight when they are falling towards the target.
- They have the ability to intercept missile inside and outside the atmosphere.
- It is interoperable with other ballistic missile defence systems and is highly mobile and deployable worldwide.
- Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.
Mains
Q. How is S-400 air defence system technically superior to any other system presently available in the world? (2021)