India’s most potent supersonic cruise missile, the BrahMos, is undergoing modernization with the BrahMos Aerospace company preparing to enhance production capacity and expedite exports. The new BrahMos-NG (Next Generation) missile is expected to enter the testing phase by 2026. Notably, Russia has expressed interest in incorporating this missile into its military arsenal.
India and Russia are collaborating to reduce the missile’s cost by increasing the capacity of factories. There are indications that Russia might procure the BrahMos for its forces. The operational capabilities and accuracy of the BrahMos in Operation Sindoor have also encouraged Russia to acquire this missile.
Over the past 25 years, only 1,000 BrahMos missiles have been produced, averaging merely 25 units annually, contributing to higher production costs. Increased production is anticipated to lower prices, facilitating sales to a larger number of countries.
The BrahMos-NG is distinguished by its lighter weight and smaller size compared to the existing BrahMos. While the standard BrahMos weighs 3,000 kg, the NG version will weigh less than 1,250 kg. Its reduced weight will enable it to be launched from lighter fighter aircraft such as the LCA Tejas and MiG-29. This missile will be capable of striking targets up to 300 km with high precision and can be launched from land, air, and sea platforms, with a submarine launch option under development.
The BrahMos’s performance in Operation Sindoor in May 2025 garnered international attention. Subsequently, 14 countries have shown interest in the missile. The Philippines has already purchased the BrahMos missile for its navy to counter Chinese aggression.
NPO Mashinostroeyenia, a Russian company, is developing a new ramjet engine for the BrahMos-NG, which will maintain its speed and lethality despite its lighter weight. India initiated the BrahMos-NG project in 2011, but actual development began in 2017. The upcoming testing phase will equip the Indian Air Force with lighter, faster, and more lethal weaponry, thereby enhancing India’s defense capabilities, and elevating India’s status among the world’s leading arms exporters.
