BrahMos Aerospace has set 2028 as the target year for the hypersonic variant of BrahMos missile to take to the skies.
“We plan to develop BrahMos hypersonic missile that can attain speeds of Mach 4.5 by 2025. By 2026-27, we want to create a missile that can cruise at Mach 6-7,” Alexander Maksichev, co-director of the Russian-Indian joint venture BrahMos Aerospace, was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti today.
Maksichev revealed that some elements of the weapon have already been tested.
BrahMos Aerospace has recorded $1 billion in orders since the beginning of the year. The company expects signing its first export contract in 2020.
"As soon as border restrictions placed due COVID-19 is lifted, the contract will be signed immediately," he said, refusing to divulge any more details.
The export customer for the BrahMos missile is likely to be Philippines. India has reportedly offered a $100 million line of credit to the country for defense purchases. Manila, however, is exploring the option of acquiring the missiles with its own funds to be allocated in the next budget.
India is said to be pitching the BrahMos for sale in Indonesia and Vietnam.