Anti-ship version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile

Context

Recently, an anti-ship version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test-fired jointly by the Indian Navy and the Andaman and Nicobar Command.

• The Andaman and Nicobar Command is the only tri-services command of the Indian armed forces.

What is BrahMos?

• BrahMos is a joint venture between the Defence Research and Development Organisation of India (DRDO) and the NPOM of Russia.
• BrahMos is named for the rivers Brahmaputra and Moskva.
• It is a two-stage (solid propellant engine in the first stage and liquid ramjet in second) missile.
• It is a multiplatform missile i.e it can be launched from land, air, and sea and multi capability missile with pinpoint accuracy that works in both day and night irrespective of the weather conditions.
• It operates on the "Fire and Forgets" principle.
• It does not require further guidance after launch.
• Brahmos is one of the fastest cruise missiles currently operationally deployed with speed of Mach 2.8, which is nearly 3 times more than the speed of sound.
• Earlier, the Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully test-fired the BrahMos missile from a Sukhoi fighter jet.
• Recently, the Indian Navy also successfully test-fired an advanced version of the Brahmos missile from a stealth destroyer in the Indian Ocean.
• However, following India’s entry into the MTCR(Missile Technology Control Regime) club in June 2016, the range is planned to be extended to 450 km and to 600km at a later stage.
• The BrahMos missile was initially developed with a range capped at 290 km.

Defense Equipment India procure From Russia

• Submarines: Six Air Independent Propulsion (AIP-powered) conventional submarines under the P75-I project.
• Negotiations for leasing two nuclear-ballistic submarines.
• Frigates & Guided-missile Destroyers: Four of the Navy’s 10 guided-missile destroyers are Russian Kashin class, and 6 of its 17 frigates are Russian Talwar class.
• Aircraft Carrier: The only aircraft carrier in service with India, INS Vikramaditya is a Soviet-made Kiev-class vessel that came into service for the Indian Navy in 2013.
• Fighter Aircraft: Russia has also been one of main exporters of fighter aircraft to India, including hundreds of Sukhoi and MiG jets.
• All six of the service’s air tankers are Russian-made Il-78s.
• Tanks: Indian Army’s main battle tank force is composed predominantly of Russian T-72M1 (66%) and T-90S (30%).
• Missile Defense System: S-400 anti-missile system.