Russian, India To Co-Develop Miniature Version Of BrahMos Missiles

India and Russia are likely to sign a formal contract to jointly develop a miniature version of the Brahmos missile that could have multiple capabilities, including agile cross border strikes to destroy infrastructure of terrorists. 

An agreement for the new version of the missile will be signed at the bilateral meet with Russia in Goa between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin, and it will be the first major upscaling of the Brahmos joint venture signed in 1998.

The new version of the Brahmos would be a much smaller version of the 300 km range cruise missile, Economic Times reported today.

Besides applications on ground, in submarines as well as an air launched version, a very special version of the new missile has been conceptualized, an official said.

This portable version can be operated by a team of three-man team. Further, a work share agreement on the co-development of a fifth generation fighter aircraft is also finalised, senior officials have confirmed.

Russia and Indian scientists had begun work on compact version of BrahMos missile in 2014. During that time, Head of BrahMos Aerospace Sivathanu Pillai had said that the length of the rocket could be 6 metres, and its diameter 0.5 metres. It can reach speeds of 3.5 times the speed of sound and carry a warhead weighing 200 to 300 kilograms, he added.

“We are faced with a challenge of reducing the rocket’s mass, so that it can be integrated with a variety of platforms, including the equipment of the Indian fifth-generation fighter with it, which is being developed jointly by India and Russia,” Pillai was quoted as saying by Russia Beyond the Headlines‎.