Envisioned as a more versatile and lighter variant of the deadly BrahMos missile, the BrahMos – Next Generation will enhance India’s offensive capabilities on a variety of battlefield platforms.
Although three metres shorter and 50 per cent lighter than the nine-metre PJ 10, the BrahMos-NG is faster (Mach 3.5 versus Mach 2.8) and has a longer range (more than 300 km versus 290 km) than the PJ 10. More, it will have a newly developed AESA radar seeker in place of the mechanically scanned one. It also has a smaller RCS (radar cross section) compared to its predecessor, making it harder for air defence systems to locate and engage the target.
A smaller and lighter version was inevitable in the backdrop of the everchanging nature of warfare. While capable of travelling at blistering speeds, the original PJ 10 is a 3-tonne behemoth. Even the air-launched and modified BrahMos-A weighs 2.5 tonnes, which means it can be carried only by the largest Indian fighter: the 40 tonne Sukhoi Su-30MKI.
At just 1.5 tonnes, the NG variant will be light enough to be carried by the indigenously-built Tejas aircraft which is a 14-tonne aircraft. For the Indian Air Force (IAF), the new missile opens up a number of options. It could arm the Sukhois with a single PJ 10 or up to three of the lighter NGs. At the same time, the new version could suit deep penetration strike aircraft, such as the Jaguar and MiG-27, providing air cover to an Indian armoured thrust.
This story is from the August 2018 edition of Geopolitics.
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This story is from the August 2018 edition of Geopolitics.
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