BrahMos Missile: Recent Talk of the Internet?

Dubela, Chhoyee Ghosh: The BrahMos missile is India’s supersonic cruise missile, likely employed during Operation Sindoor to target and destroy terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. It was reportedly used for the first time in live combat on May 10, 2025, to strike Pakistani military facilities, although there has been no formal confirmation from the Indian Ministry of Defence.

Manufactured by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between India’s Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya, the name “BrahMos” is derived from two rivers — India’s Brahmaputra and Russia’s Moskva. One of the key features of the BrahMos missile is its versatility, as it can be launched from land, water, and air.

The BrahMos missile has a standard range of 300 km, though recent trials have shown that it can reach up to 800 km. It has a payload capacity of 200 to 300 kilograms of conventional high-explosive warheads. A standout feature of the BrahMos is that it is undetectable and unbeatable by current air defence systems in countries like Pakistan and China. Dr. Sudhir Kumar Mishra, former Director-General of BrahMos DRDO, has stated that no known defence system in the world can intercept this missile. In comparison to subsonic cruise missiles, the BrahMos delivers three times the velocity and nine times the kinetic energy on impact.

Currently, two primary variants of the BrahMos missile are in service — BrahMos Block 1 and BrahMos Air-Launched, with three advanced variants under development. Each unit reportedly costs around 34 crore INR, and setting up a production unit requires an estimated 300 crore INR investment.

On May 10, 2025, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a new BrahMos facility in Lucknow, further showcasing India’s capability in missile manufacturing and national defence.

Recently, the BrahMos missile has been at the centre of intense discussions, with various reports indicating its use during Operation Sindoor. While the official confirmation from the Indian Ministry of Defence is pending, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath confirmed the missile’s use during the retaliation strikes on Pakistan on May 10. If confirmed, it would demonstrate India’s readiness to deploy advanced strategic assets in the face of provocation.