(VIDEO) India Tests BrahMos ER (Extended-Range). Striking Deep In Enemy Territory?

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — In recent weeks, Pakistan conducted a test launch of the Fatah-II missile, while just a few hours ago, its primary adversary, India, carried out a test launch of the upgraded BrahMos guided missile.

 Both nations with a shared border have advanced conventional and nuclear missile development programs, enabling their respective armed forces to engage targets hundreds of kilometers away.

As reported by Indian defense observers, yesterday an Indian Navy Rajput-class destroyer successfully conducted a test launch of the BrahMos ER (Extended Range) cruise missile, capable of precisely hitting ground targets up to 800 km away.

Videos of the BrahMos ER missile launches are now circulating on Indian social media.

According to Indian military analysts, this recent BrahMos ER missile test aligns with India’s frequently echoed slogan of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India).

 With a range of 800 km, the BrahMos ER missile has the capability to easily target any location within Pakistan’s territory, posing a significant tactical threat to the Pakistani military.

Undoubtedly, this latest BrahMos ER guided missile test has garnered attention not only from the Pakistani military but also from the Chinese military, given the ongoing tensions between these two major Asian powers.

 Like Pakistan, India and China share an extensive border in the northern region, and their armed forces have historically engaged in conflicts, whether using primitive weapons or more sophisticated arms.

In recent years, India has frequently conducted BrahMos missile tests, whether launched from coastal mobile launch systems, fighter aircraft, or naval vessels.

These efforts aim to enhance the precision and range of the BrahMos missile.

Starting with a range of 290 km, the BrahMos guided missile now reaches 800 km, with New Delhi planning to further increase its range to approximately 1,500 km.

In 2020, the Indian military launched a land-attack variant of the BrahMos missile from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, showcasing its capability to control the entry points to the Malacca Strait.

In 2021, the Indian military successfully tested the BrahMos missile from Su-30 MKI fighter jets, extending its range to 800 km.

It is reported that the Indian Air Force has equipped around 40 out of its 250 Su-30MKI fighter jets with BrahMos Air Launched Cruise Missiles (ALCM).

Some of these aircraft, armed with BrahMos ALCMs, have been deployed to the northern border with China to counter any provocative actions from China.

The BrahMos missile system is a joint venture between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostreyenia (NPOM).

The Mach 2.8 BrahMos guided missile can carry approximately 200 kg of high-explosive material.

 

The BrahMos missile is a versatile cruise missile using ramjet technology, launchable from various platforms such as aircraft, ships, submarines, and coastal areas.

 India is actively marketing the BrahMos missile to foreign countries, with Southeast Asia being a primary target.

Manila is reportedly set to receive the BrahMos coastal defense missile system purchased from India at a cost of US$375 million (RM1.5 billion) this month.

 Southeast Asian countries, particularly the Philippines, will be the first outside India to deploy this missile system strategically in the South China Sea or what Manila refers to as the West Philippine Sea.

The Philippines intends to use the BrahMos missile system to deter any Chinese attempts to seize, occupy, or infringe upon islands or coral reefs within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the western South China Sea, also known as the West Philippine Sea. — DSA

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