India to boost naval power with 200 BrahMos missiles

The Cabinet Committee on Security has approved the acquisition of more than 200 BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and associated systems that will be fitted on Indian warships, with the significant capability enhancement for the navy expected to cost around ₹19,000 crore, officials aware of the matter said on Thursday.

- Rahul Singh

These weapons will be a mix of BrahMos missiles that can strike targets at 290 km and its extended range variant with a range of almost 500 km, the officials added, asking not to be named. The contract is expected to be signed before the end of financial year 2023-24, Hindustan Times has learnt.

BrahMos is the fastest cruise missile in the world with a speed of Mach 2.8, nearly three times the speed of sound. Its variants can be launched from land, air and sea, and all three are in service in the Indian armed forces.

India is set to deliver BrahMos missiles to the Philippines in March, two years after the two countries signed a deal worth almost $375 million to equip the Philippine Marines with three batteries of the missiles. This is the first export order for the BrahMos missile developed by India and Russia.