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Extended Range Version of BrahMos missile

Posted on May 14, 2022 by admin1  410

In News

  • The Indian Air Force has successfully test-fired an extended-range version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile in the Bay of Bengal.

About BrahMos

  • Joint Venture: It is a joint venture between the Defence Research and Development Organisation of India (DRDO) and the NPOM of Russia.
  • Nomenclature: It is named after two important rivers; Brahmaputra and Moskva of India and Russia respectively.
  • 2 stage missile: It is a two-stage missile, with a solid propellant engine in the first stage and a liquid ramjet in the second.
  • Multiplatform: It can be launched from land, air and sea.
    • It works on the ‘Fire and Forgets’ principle i.e., it needs no mid-air guiding mandates.
  • Fastest in the world: Brahmos is the fastest cruise missile in the world currently with the speed of Mach 2.8 (roughly 3 times more than the speed of sound).

About the Extended version

  • Extended range: The range of the advanced version of the missile has increased from 290 kms (Brahmos) to 350 kms.
  • Earlier MTCR restriction: The earlier speed was purposefully capped at 290 kms i.e. below 300 kms as India was not a member of MTCR (Missile Technology Control Regime). With the ratification in 2016, it is now allowed to develop missiles beyond 300 kms of range.

Strategic advantage

  • The extended-range capability of the missile coupled with the high performance of the Su-30MKI aircraft gives the IAF a strategic reach and allows it to dominate the battlefields.
  • BrahMos missile flies at a speed of 2.8 Mach or almost three times the speed of sound which provides India strategic airpower in face of 2 inimical neighbours.
  • The interoperability of missiles among the Indian Navy and IAF infrastructure further boosts the strategic advantage in the battle field.
  • Accuracy in precision: The missile is pinpoint in accuracy while hitting the targets in a very quick span of time.
  • As it is jointly developed by India and Russia, the technology involved has led to positive spillovers in the R&D of missile and associated technology in India.

Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)

  • About: It is an informal and voluntary partnership among 35 countries to prevent the proliferation of missile and unmanned aerial vehicle technology capable of carrying greater than 500 kg payload for more than 300 km.
  • Prohibition: The members are prohibited from supplying such missiles and UAV systems that are controlled by the MTCR to non-members.
  • Rule- based mechanism: The members have to adhere to a framework of guidelines pertaining to information sharing, national control laws and export policies for missile systems and a rule-based regulation mechanism to limit the transfer of critical technologies.
  • Consensus: The decisions of the body are taken by consensus of all the members.
  • It was established in April 1987 by G-7 countries:  USA, UK, France, Germany, Canada, Italy, and Japan.
  • In 1992, the focus of the regime extended to on the proliferation of missiles for the delivery of all types of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), i.e., nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.
  • Not legally binding: It is not a legally-binding treaty. Non-compliance with provisions does not attract a penalty.
  • India has been a member of Missile Technology Control Regime in 2016.
  • China is not a member of the regime.

Source: TH

 
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