India has finalized two major export orders for the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system, worth approximately ₹40 billion ($450 million), marking a significant boost to the country’s defense exports. The announcement was made by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, though details about the recipient countries remain undisclosed.
These contracts are the first BrahMos export deals since the Philippines purchased three coastal batteries in 2022 for $322 million. The new orders demonstrate growing international confidence in India’s advanced missile technology and may pave the way for additional deals with nations like Vietnam and Indonesia, both of which have shown strong interest in the system in recent years.
The BrahMos, co-developed by DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya, is one of the world’s fastest cruise missiles, reaching Mach 3 speeds. It employs a two-stage propulsion system—a solid-fuel booster for initial lift-off and a liquid-fueled ramjet engine for sustained high-speed flight. With a range of up to 490 kilometers (302 miles), the missile can engage both land and naval targets with pinpoint accuracy.
Flying at low altitudes using a sea-skimming trajectory, the BrahMos missile minimizes radar detection while delivering a 300-kilogram high-explosive warhead. The system is available in multiple variants, including coastal defense, ship-launched, and air-launched versions, with a submarine-launched model currently in development. The growing interest in BrahMos reflects India’s success in positioning itself as a key player in the global precision-strike weapons market.
