Context: Ministry of Defence has signed a deal with BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited (BAPL) for the procurement of Next Generation Maritime Mobile Coastal Batteries (Long Range) and BrahMos missiles, valued at over Rs 1,700 crore, under Buy (Indian) category.
Aim: To enhance the Indian Navy’s maritime strike capabilities along the coast.
Next-Generation Maritime Mobile Coastal Batteries (Long Range)
- Next-Generation Maritime Mobile Coastal Batteries come equipped with new missiles like the BrahMos surface-to-surface cruise missiles.
- This system will allow the Indian Navy to target enemy platforms operating close to the Indian coast.
Supersonic BrahMos missiles
- BrahMos is the fastest cruise missile in the world with a top speed of Mach 2.8 or almost three times the speed of sound.
- It is a two-stage missile (solid propellant engine in the first stage and liquid ramjet in the second stage) with a range of 290 km.
- The multiplatform missile can be launched from land, air, and sea with pinpoint accuracy during day and night irrespective of weather conditions.
Special features of BrahMos
- Universal for multiple platforms
- Stealth technology and guidance system
- “Fire and Forget” principle of operation
- Pinpoint accuracy with high lethal power
- Quicker engagement time and non-interception by any known weapon system
Significance
- Enhance the multi-directional maritime strike capability of the Indian Navy.
- Boost indigenous production of the critical weapon system and ammunition with the active participation of indigenous industries.
- Generate employment of more than 90,000 man-days over a period of four years.
BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd (BAPL)
- BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd is a joint venture between India and Russia that produces supersonic cruise missiles that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms.
- BrahMos is named for the rivers Brahmaputra and Moskva.
- BrahMos was established through an inter-governmental agreement in 1998 as a joint venture between India’s state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation and NPO Mashinostroyenia of Russia.
- Although BrahMos missiles still depend on Russian parts and raw materials, the percentage of local input had gone up to over 70% from around 15% at the start of the venture.
