India’s deadliest future weapons explained, power of stealth and destruction in its hands
1 Brahmos
1) Brahmos Aerospace was formed as a joint venture between Defence Research and Development Organisation ( DRDO) and Federal State Unitary Enterprise NPOM of Russia.
2) Brahmos Aerospace was established in India in February, 1998.
3) Brahmos represents the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers.
4) It is a supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from land, air, ships and submarines. It has a speed of 3 Mach.
5) It has a flight range of 290 kms.
6) It carries a conventional warhead weighing upto 200 to 300 kgs. It can also carry nuclear warheads.
7) It has a “fire and forget” principle of operation.
8) Capable of being launched into Pakistan and China.
9) Brahmos is currently operational with the Indian Navy ships and Indian Army’s land based launchers.
10) Induction of first version of Brahmos weapon complex in the navy began from 2005 with INS Rajput as the first ship.
11) The army started inducting the land attack Brahmos Block I from 2007. It has three regiments of the missile. Fourth regiment was approved by the Cabinet Committee of Security last month.
12) It can be launched from underwater as well.
13) Brahmos air launched version was flight tested on a SU-30MKI fighter of the IAF.
14) The SU-30 BRAHMOS will carry out air combat operations within and beyond visibility range.
15) It will provide the IAF the capability to attack targets, which are protected by powerful air defence systems.
16) Following the BRICS summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin said India and Russia have agreed to improve the Brahmos missile and will work to increase its range.