Indian government approves purchase of BrahMos anti-ship missiles

The Cabinet Committee on Security approved the decision to purchase BrahMos anti-ship missiles for the Indian Navy.

The Times of India reported on this.

In total, within this agreement, DRDO will transfer up to 220 BrahMos supersonic cruise anti-ship missiles to the Indian Navy.

Missiles of this type will become part of the surface ship weapons system, which would help the Indian Navy gain an advantage in a potential naval war with China.

This contract is estimated to cost US $2.4 billion. The new missiles will primarily be installed on the Visakhapatnam and Kolkata destroyers.

It should be noted that the Indian Navy will receive an option with an increased range, which is 400 km.

The BrahMos missile is a joint development of India and Russia based on the Soviet supersonic P-800 Onyx AShM. The missile guidance system consists of an inertial guidance system and an active radar homing.

The missile’s maximum flight speed is up to 3 Mach, and the minimum flight altitude is 10 meters.

In addition to India, the Philippines has ordered the coastal anti-ship missile system with BrahMos missiles.

No other export orders for these missiles have been announced yet. After receiving these anti-ship systems, the Philippines will become the first foreign operator of BrahMos supersonic missiles.

The Philippines’ strengthening of its anti-ship capabilities is vital amid growing confrontation with China in the region.

Three batteries of these anti-ship systems will be part of the coastal units of the Marine Corps of the Philippines.