In a moment of national pride, the first batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles built at the newly inaugurated Lucknow facility will be formally handed over on Saturday, 18 October. The event will be led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who will jointly flag off the consignment—marking a significant leap for India’s defence manufacturing sector.

The missiles represent the first production batch from the Lucknow unit, located in the Bhatgaon region of the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor. This high-tech facility was inaugurated by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh on May 11 this year, a date also observed as National Technology Day. During the virtual inauguration ceremony, the minister remarked, “Operation Sindoor was not just a military action, but a symbol of India’s political, social and strategic willpower.”

The BrahMos Lucknow unit has been constructed at an estimated cost of ₹300 crore and spans across 80 hectares of land. The site is equipped with state-of-the-art production lines capable of mass manufacturing, representing India’s expanding self-reliance in the defence sector. The initial target is to produce 80 to 100 missiles per year, with the capability to scale up to 150 units annually once operations reach full stability.

The BrahMos missiles are co-developed by India’s DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya, under a joint India-Russia venture. The weapon can be launched from land, sea, or air, giving India’s military a crucial edge in flexibility and deterrence.

This production unit is a vital part of the Defence Industrial Corridor project announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 2018 Global Investors’ Summit. The corridor includes six strategic nodes—Lucknow, Kanpur, Aligarh, Agra, Jhansi, and Chitrakoot—and its foundation stone was laid in 2021.

Earlier this year, during Operation Sindoor, the Indian armed forces reportedly deployed the BrahMos missile for the first time in combat, achieving an impressive success rate. Indian forces launched multiple BrahMos missiles that pierced Pakistan’s air-defence network, striking military installations across various locations. Reports indicated that the airfields at Skardu, Bholari, Jacobabad, and Sargodha sustained heavy damage, while Sialkot and Pasrur radar stations were also hit. Some accounts suggest that BrahMos was deployed alongside SCALP and Hammer munitions during these precision strikes.

The BrahMos missile, often hailed as one of the fastest in the world, is a long-range supersonic cruise weapon equipped with an unmanned payload, a high-precision guidance system, a robust aerodynamic body, and advanced propulsion technology. Developed jointly by India and Russia, it has become a symbol of India’s rising technological capability in strategic defence manufacturing.

BrahMos enters combat success: How the India-Russia project grew under the vision of Vajpayee and APJ Abdul Kalam

India reportedly carried out its first live-battle use of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile on the early morning of 10 May, striking deep inside Pakistani military installations. According to defence reports, the Indian Air Force retaliated against Pakistani attempts to breach Indian airspace by targeting several key airbases, including Rafiqui, Murid, Nur Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, and Chunian.

The airfields at Skardu, Bholari, Jacobabad, and Sargodha were again reported to have suffered substantial damage, while radar facilities at Sialkot and Pasrur were neutralized. Multiple accounts indicate that BrahMos missiles were likely used in conjunction with SCALP and Hammer munitions for these precise strikes.

The following day, 11 May, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath disclosed that “during ‘Operation Sindoor’ a BrahMos missile was utilized in strikes against Pakistan,” speaking at the inauguration of the BrahMos Aerospace Integration and Testing Facility in Lucknow. This announcement confirmed that the missile had seen its first real-world combat deployment since undergoing successful testing on 12 June 2001.

This milestone is not just a reflection of technological evolution but also the outcome of visionary leadership from the early 2000s. The late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, then Prime Minister, and Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, India’s missile scientist and later President, laid the foundation for the BrahMos joint venture—an enduring partnership between Indian and Russian scientific ingenuity.

Inside the BrahMos missile: Design, power and precision

The BrahMos missile stands as a pinnacle of engineering excellence—an unmanned, long-range supersonic cruise missile that blends speed, accuracy, and destructive power. It features a two-stage propulsion system, beginning with a solid propellant booster that accelerates the missile beyond the speed of sound. Once separated, the second stage liquid ramjet engine takes over, propelling the missile to nearly three times the speed of sound (Mach 3).

A liquid ramjet operates by injecting fuel into a rapidly moving airstream and igniting it, creating powerful thrust. The BrahMos is built on the “Fire and Forget Principle,” meaning it needs no further human control after launch. Its high kinetic energy significantly enhances its destructive potential.

Engineered for reliability and stealth, the BrahMos integrates advanced guidance software and aerodynamic design that reduce radar detection. It maintains supersonic speed throughout its flight, covering ranges up to 290 kilometres. It can strike targets with remarkable precision, cruising as high as 15 kilometres and descending to as low as 10 metres for terminal impact. The missile carries a 200-300 kilogram conventional warhead, ensuring devastating accuracy against enemy targets.

Cruise missiles such as the BrahMos are known as “stand-off range weapons,” enabling launch from a safe distance to evade hostile defensive fire. Among all operational cruise missiles worldwide, the BrahMos remains the first and fastest supersonic system currently in service—a true testament to India’s strategic collaboration and indigenous technological strength.

Origins of BrahMos: Tracing Its Historic Journey

India launched its Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) in 1983. Under the leadership of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Indian engineers developed the ballistic missiles Prithvi and Agni, which today form the backbone of India’s strategic (nuclear) deterrent. However, after the Cold War, especially following the Gulf War, it became clear that India also needed cruise missiles to supplement its ballistic arsenal.

The Indian Navy, recognizing its need for precise and versatile strike capabilities, pressed for development of such missiles. For a growing maritime power seeking dominance in the Indian Ocean, that requirement became urgent. In this strategic context, India’s longtime friendship with Russia played a key role. The collaboration allowed India to access advanced missile technologies without breaching its non-alignment stance.

On 12 February 1998, under the government of Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral, India and Russia signed an agreement to establish the BrahMos Private Limited joint venture. The name “BrahMos” is a blend of the names of two rivers—the Brahmaputra in India and the Moskva in Russia. Simultaneously, an Intergovernmental Agreement was signed between Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia and India’s DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation). This constructed the cooperative venture to build the missile system and formed BrahMos Private Limited (BAPL).

On India’s side, Dr Kalam, then heading DRDO, signed on India’s behalf. The venture was founded with US $250 million in authorized capital, which in current valuation corresponds to more than ₹2,135 crore. In the 1998 capital split, India held 50.5% while Russia held the remaining 49.5% of the funding.

On 9 July 1999, during Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure, the first formal contract for the BrahMos project was signed. The Russian government committed $123.75 million, and the Indian side contributed $126.25 million. That same year, research and development began in specialized labs run by DRDO and NPOM.

The first test launch of BrahMos was conducted on 12 June 2001 from a fixed launcher at the Chandipur test range. Later that same year, the missile made its international debut at the MAKS 2001 airshow in Moscow in August. By 2003, a BrahMos was launched from a ship in the Bay of Bengal, and in 2004, the first test from a mobile ground launcher followed.

Between 1998 and 2004, under Defence Minister George Fernandes and PM Vajpayee’s leadership, efforts were made to oversee production and deployment. The Indian military first placed orders for the BrahMos missiles between 2006 and 2009. In 2008, the missile was launched in a vertical mode from INS Ranvir for the first time. Under Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, the BrahMos was inducted into the Indian Navy in 2005, the Indian Army in 2007, and later in 2012, the air-launched version made its formal debut.

The Multiple BrahMos Variants

Ship-based variant: The naval version of BrahMos was first deployed by the Indian Navy in 2005, aboard INS Rajput, marking its entry into sea-based warfare. This naval variant can be launched from both static and mobile sea platforms, in vertical or inclined modes. It supports both sea-to-land and sea-to-sea attacks, enhancing naval strike reach beyond visible radar range.

From a ship, BrahMos can be fired as a single missile or in a salvo of up to eight, with an interval between firings of two and a half seconds. This capability allows a group of missile-armed frigates, even with modern defenses, to be engaged and overwhelmed. The ship variant is viewed as a “prime strike weapon” in naval operations.

Land-based system: On land, BrahMos is deployed via a complex of four to six transportable autonomous launchers. Each launcher typically handles three missiles, which can be fired nearly simultaneously at three different targets using different configurations. The Indian Army made the BrahMos ground version operational in 2007. The land systems also include air-conditioned compartments with NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) protection.

Over time, three major configurations have been fielded:

• Block I, which offers accurate target engagement;

• Block II, which can descend at supersonic speeds and discriminate targets;

• Block III, conceived to engage difficult terrain targets, such as in mountains.

Air-launched version: BrahMos has passed multiple flight tests, culminating in its first launch from an IAF combat aircraft against a sea target in November 2017 in the Bay of Bengal. The Sukhoi Su-30MKI was adapted to carry the BrahMos ALCM (Air-Launched Cruise Missile) variant.

By 2019, the air-launched BrahMos demonstrated both land-attack and anti-ship capability from standoff distances under all weather conditions and at any time of day or night. These armed Sukhois are seen as a strong deterrent along land borders and in the Indian Ocean Region. It is claimed they can fly 1,500 km without needing mid-air refueling.

Submarine-launched variant: The first successful test of this submarine version occurred in March 2013, from a submerged platform off the Visakhapatnam coast. This variant can fire from about 50 meters below the water’s surface. The missile is stored in a canister and is launched vertically from a submarine’s pressure hull. It is designed to transit through underwater and air segments with separate operational modes.

Futuristic BrahMos-NG: The BrahMos-NG (Next Generation) is a lighter, more advanced variant under development, targeting air and sea deployment. It promises next-gen stealth, better resistance against Electronic Counter-Countermeasures (ECCM), suitability for underwater missions, and potentially the ability to launch from a torpedo tube. According to reports, each unit is projected to cost nearly ₹34 crore, and setting up a production unit could require around ₹300 crore.

Why BrahMos Matters

India employs the “Fire and Forget” doctrine with its missile systems, enabling strikes on long-range targets without further guidance control. BrahMos, being among the fastest cruise missiles globally, is engineered to precisely hit both land and naval targets.

Key specifications include:

• Range: Over 450 kilometres, with extended-range versions tested up to 800 to 1,000 kilometres.

• Speed: Between Mach 2.8 and 3.0, making interception extremely difficult.

• Launch platforms: BrahMos can be launched from air, land, sea, or submarines, with the Sukhoi Su-30MKI used for air-launches.

• Accuracy: Thanks to advanced guidance and navigation, the strike precision is exceptionally high.

• Payload: A 200–300 kilogram high-explosive warhead, optimized for attacking well-protected targets.

Compared to conventional subsonic cruise missiles, BrahMos offers three times the velocity, 2.5 to 3 times the flight range, three to four times the seeker range, and about nine times the kinetic energy. Its original operational range was 290 kilometres, but newer versions are being tested to push beyond. More advanced variants such as BrahMos Extended Range (up to 1,500 km) and a hypersonic BrahMos-II (capable of cruising at Mach 8) are in the works.

Currently, as of 2025, Block I and the Air-Launched BrahMos remain the principal versions in active service.