Big Boost For India's Defence Exports As Russia Shows Interest In Acquiring BrahMos-NG Missiles
Russia’s recent expression of interest in acquiring the BrahMos
Next-Generation (BrahMos-NG) missile marks a major development in the
evolution of India–Russia defence collaboration and could prove to be a
turning point in global missile exports.
The BrahMos, already regarded as one of the fastest and most reliable
supersonic cruise missiles in operational service, has drawn renewed
attention after its performance in Operation Sindoor.
During that operation, the missile demonstrated capabilities that reaffirmed
claims that no contemporary air-defence system could effectively intercept it.
This operational validation significantly enhanced its reputation, not just as
a deterrent in South Asia, but as a combat-proven weapon system
globally.
Against this backdrop, Russia’s interest in incorporating the next-generation
variant into its own military arsenal underscores both the maturity of BrahMos
technology and its relevance in future high-intensity conflicts.
Over the last 25 years, BrahMos Aerospace, the Indo-Russian joint venture
responsible for the missile’s production, has manufactured approximately 1,000
units—an average annual output of just 25 missiles.
While this cadence was initially sufficient to meet the requirements of the
Indian Armed Forces, it is far too slow to support global export ambitions or
sustained demand. Several nations have expressed interest in purchasing the
system post-Sindoor, prompting a reassessment of production scale and cost
structures.
A major issue has been the high unit cost of BrahMos missiles, rooted in both
their advanced propulsion system and the limited pace of manufacturing. India
and Russia have jointly resolved to significantly ramp up production through
investments in new facilities and resource sharing.
Notably, Moscow may leverage Indian rupees currently held within Russia as a
mechanism to finance production expansion, bypassing international currency
restrictions while simultaneously boosting joint supply-chain resilience.
The centrepiece of this new phase is the BrahMos-NG, a smaller, lighter, and
faster iteration designed specifically for broader deployment platforms. While
the current BrahMos variants weigh around 3,000 kg for the land/ship-launched
version and approximately 2,500 kg for the air-launched configuration, the
BrahMos-NG will weigh just 1,250 kg.
The reduced mass allows compatibility with lighter fighter jets such as the
MiG-29, Sukhoi Su-30 derivatives without extensive modification, and India’s
combat-proven TEJAS MK-1A. This opens the system to far greater tactical
versatility—enabling multiple missiles per sortie, rapid deployment, and a
wider array of potential international operators who may lack heavy
twin-engine strike aircraft compatible with the original BrahMos.
The reduced weight also translates into faster speeds and improved
maneuverability, making interception even more difficult and thereby enhancing
its role as a precision first-strike and anti-access/area-denial weapon.
BrahMos Aerospace Deputy CEO Chilukoti Chandrasekhar has confirmed to Russia’s
TASS news agency that discussions on Russia’s possible induction of BrahMos-NG
are in progress. He emphasised that both Indian and Russian partners are
aligned in efforts to jointly bring down production costs, expand capacity,
and balance domestic requirements with export orders
This dual-track strategy—simultaneously scaling indigenous deployment while
carving out a robust export market—positions BrahMos as a flagship of India’s
defence export ambitions.
Significantly, autonomous flight trials of
BrahMos-NG are expected to commence in 2026, according to retired IAF Jaguar
pilot and defence analyst Vijayendra K Thakur.
Successful demonstrations in that time-frame would mean that BrahMos-NG could
become a deployable system within the next decade, coinciding with India’s
broader military modernisation cycle and its emphasis on expanding aerospace
strike capabilities.
What makes BrahMos-NG especially strategic is its symbolism as a
"next-generation weapon" reflective of India’s evolving defence-industrial
posture.
Unlike the first phase of BrahMos, which primarily served to meet India’s
immediate deterrence needs, the NG variant embodies India’s aspirations as a
top-tier defence exporter.
The missile meets three global benchmarks for a successful export weapon
system: operational credibility, platform flexibility, and geopolitical
acceptability.
With Russia, the original technology partner, now considering procurement for
its own military—even as India deploys and exports the system further
afield—the BrahMos-NG could become both a key revenue generator and a powerful
diplomatic tool.
If production capabilities are successfully scaled up in the coming years,
BrahMos Aerospace could transform from a niche missile house into one of the
world’s most competitive precision-strike armaments vendors, with India
leveraging this to strengthen defence ties across Asia, the Middle East, and
beyond.
Comparative table of BrahMos Vs BrahMos-NG highlighting the key differences that are driving India’s export push and Russia’s interest:
| Feature | BrahMos (Current) | BrahMos-NG (Next Generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Weight (missile only) | ~3,000 kg (land/ship-launched), ~2,500 kg (air-launched) | ~1,250 kg |
| Length | ~8.4 m | ~6.0 m |
| Diameter | ~0.67 m | ~0.5 m |
| Speed | Mach 2.8–3.0 | Aim: Faster than current version (~Mach 3.5 reported) |
| Range | 290–450 km (export variant limited; newer Indian versions ~800 km) | ~300 km initially (export-compliant, scalable with longer-range versions) |
| Warhead Capacity | ~200–300 kg | ~150 kg (lighter but still lethal for precision strikes) |
| Launch Platforms | Ships, land-mobile launchers, Su-30MKI (twin-engine heavy fighter) | Lighter fighters such as Tejas Mk-1A, MiG-29, Rafale, plus Su-30MKI; retains ship/land module adaptability |
| Deployment Flexibility | Primarily large platforms; fewer air-launched sorties due to heavy weight | Greater sortie rate & payload flexibility; multiple NGs can be carried per fighter sortie |
| Production Cost | Very high, ~limited by low scale (average 25 units/year, ~1,000 over 25 years) | Expected lower due to mass production, lighter materials, and scaling up exports |
| Current Users | Indian Navy, Army, Air Force; exports begun with Philippines (2022) | Projected: India (all 3 services), Russia (evaluating), wider export customers post-2027 |
| Operational Status | Fully inducted, combat-proven (Operation Sindoor) | Flight tests expected in 2026, induction by ~2028–2030 |
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