new cruise missile in india

India achieves ITCM success with indigenous cruise systems

B HUBANESWAR: In yet another milestone in cruise missile technology, India successfully flight-tested Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM) from a defence facility off Odisha coast on Thursday.

Designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the missile with turbofan engine Manik was test-fired from launching complex-III of the Integrated Test Range (ITR).

The test demonstrated reliable performance of the indigenous propulsion system developed by Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), Bengaluru. Along with the propulsion system, all subsystems were validated during the developmental trial.

ITCM is a technology demonstrator programme, which has been launched to validate the capability of Made-in-India small turbo fan engine, upgraded radio frequency seekers, and other subsystems developed for the indigenous cruise missile.

Equipped with the new turbo fan engine, defence sources said, the missile was tested in full operational configuration. The propulsion system performed very well and the missile reached the desired cruise altitude as expected. The flight of the missile was monitored from Sukhoi-30-Mk-I aircraft of the Indian Air Force.

"The missile followed the desired path using way point navigation and demonstrated very low altitude sea-skimming flight. The performance was monitored by several range sensors like radar, electro optical tracking system and telemetry deployed by ITR at different locations to ensure complete coverage of the flight path," sources said.

It achieved second consecutive success after a failed attempt on October 28, 2022 as the system developed a snag in the engine after separation of the booster stage. Fitted with an upgraded radio frequency seeker and Manik engine, the missile was test fired successfully on February 21, 2023.

Based on the subsonic cruise missile Nirbhay, the ITCM is also equipped with advanced avionics and software to ensure better and reliable performance. The missile has been developed by Bengaluru-based Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), a lab of DRDO, along with contributions from other laboratories and Indian industries.

The two-stage ICTM is six-metre long and weighs around 1.5 tonne. It can cruise at a speed of 0.9 Mach and strike targets at a distance of up to 1,000 km. The missile will supplement the Indo-Russian joint venture supersonic cruise missile BrahMos.

DRDO chairman Samir V Kamat congratulated the entire team for the successful mission. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said successful development of the indigenous long range subsonic cruise missile powered by indigenous propulsion is a major milestone for Indian defence R&D.

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Supersonic punch, hypersonic killer boost India’s cruise missile capability

India’s cruise missile capability has evolved as a credible conventional level deterrence since the turn of the new millennium. the ramjet powered brahmos supersonic cruise missile with a proven range of up to 280 km has been serving as the primary heavy-strike weapon of the indian army and the indian navy for the last two decades..

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The last century was a transformative and transitional period in the history of contemporary warfare as a new generation of kinetic strike weapons took to the skies after the Second World War.

Starting right from the first Gulf War in 1990 and ending with the Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria campaigns in the first two decades of the 21st century, and now as visible in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War, the world has witnessed the usage of game-changing aerial weapons which tipped the balance in the aggressor’s favour in the opening hours of the war.

Such weapons play a very pivotal role not just in maintaining conventional-level deterrence, but also in executing tactical-level nuclear strikes on the enemy’s ground-based infantry battalions and armoured mobile formations in case of an escalation.

READ | Indian Navy to order over 200 BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles for warships

The emergence of turbofan engine-powered terrain-hugging cruise missiles which can fly at lower altitudes (below hostile radar coverage) and at treetop heights, are some of the most formidable and destructive weapons on the conventional battlefield. A heavy barrage of air-launched, ship-launched, submarine-launched and ground-launched cruise missiles during wars can take out the enemy’s airfields, dams, bridges, railheads, army garrisons, anti-aircraft positions, heavy-artillery bases, underground nuclear weapon storage facilities and other important strategic installations in the opening hours of the war thus clearing the way for an aerial kinetic bombardment campaign and simultaneous ground incursion inside hostile territory.

Unlike heavyweight ballistic missiles which have a larger Circular Error Probability (CEP) and can be used for devastating nuclear strikes on enemy cities, cruise missiles are lightweight, tremendously maneuverable and highly accurate.

Such weapons are jet-propelled flying bombs raining surprise death on the enemy. Whereas some cruise missiles with larger RCS (Radar Cross Section) can be engaged with ground-based Surface-to-Air Air-Defence (AD) missile units, the task becomes almost impossible if the incoming missile is flying at supersonic speeds.

At lower altitudes and at subsonic speeds, such deadly flying weapons can be engaged Within Visual Range (WVR) with the help of high-calibre anti-aircraft machine guns like the CIWS, L-60 and L-70 systems through Line of Sight (LOS) automatic fire target engagement. But a supersonic missile flying at speeds of Mach 2.8 (almost 3500 km an hour) will give very little reaction-time to the enemy for a counterattack and counter-engagement of the projectile in mid-course flight. Moreover, if the weapon is launched in an air-launched configuration from a fighter jet or a bomber aircraft, the high-velocity release of the missile and increased range provides extra kinetic energy to the package for long range Beyond Visual Range (BVR) target engagements from aerial platforms.

A deadly supersonic punch

India’s cruise missile capability has largely evolved as a credible conventional level deterrence since the turn of the new millennium. The ramjet powered BrahMos supersonic cruise missile with a proven range of up to 280 km, which was further enhanced to 450 km during recent tests, and having a maximum potential range of up to 800 km, has been serving as the primary heavy-strike weapon of the Indian Army and the Indian Navy for the last two decades.

ALSO READ | India successfully test fires surface to surface BrahMos cruise missile

The terrain-hugging missile, powered by a first stage solid-propulsion-based booster motor and a liquid-fuelled ramjet second stage engine, can fly at treetop heights and execute sharp manoeuvres before high velocity impact on the target with speeds of up to Mach 3 (3700 km an hour).

The high Mach numbers ensure a deadly impact on the pre-designated target in ‘fire and forget’ mode and enhances its role as a kinetic kill weapon against high value enemy targets. Developed from the Russian ‘P-800 Oniks’ anti-ship missile system, BrahMos can prove to be a great force multiplier on the conventional battlefield.

ALSO READ | How India is gearing up for its own hypersonic ballistic missile

While compared to other tactical cruise missiles in its class, the BrahMos flies at almost three times more velocity and has almost 2.5 times more range. The missile also carries the USP (unique selling proposition) of having four times more seeker range and nine times more kinetic energy in the terminal phase while being compared to other widely used cruise missiles.

The TNT-based conventional warhead weighing up to 300 kg acts as a high-explosive device which can even take out deep underground bunkers of the enemy. BrahMos is also capable of carrying anti-armour warheads which can wipe out entire mechanised infantry columns and tank units of the enemy.

With slight customisation, BrahMos is capable of carrying tactical nuclear warheads in pure-fission and compact boosted-fission configurations which can land devastating punches on hostile garrisons, cantonments, railheads and airbases. The ground-based launchers of BrahMos are based on a TEL (Transporter-Erector-launcher) vehicle-based Mobile Autonomous launcher (MAL)-based canister packages made from maraging steel which gives the user a rapid shoot and scoot capability.

The sealed canister package enhances mobility of the TEL truck and also increases the missile’s shelf life. India and Russia have decided to jointly manufacture up to 2000 BrahMos missiles by the middle of the current decade, of which 50 percent can be exported to various nations. At present, the Indian Navy has 100 such missiles deployed onboard warships whereas 100 have been kept as backup inventory.

At present, the Rajput-class destroyer- INS Rajput has four BrahMos missiles in two twin inclined launchers whereas INS Ranvir and INS Ranvijay are armed with one 8-cell Brahmos VLS launcher, leading to a total of 16 missiles. The Talwar-class frigates- INS Teg, INS Tarkash, INS Trikand and three Shivalik-class frigates are also armed with one 8-cell Brahmos VLS launcher, amounting to a total of 48 missiles. Each of the Kolkata-class and Visakhapatnam-class destroyers also position the 8-cell Brahmos VLS launchers, leading to a total of 32 missiles. Moreover, the submarine-launched version of BrahMos is also undergoing rigorous testing after the maiden flight test was successfully executed from an underwater pontoon in 2013. All six future diesel-electric conventional submarines being planned under ‘Project-75I’ will be equipped with VLS launchers and the Submarine Launched Cruise Missile version of BrahMos.

The Indian Army also boasts of having a devastating weapon in its arsenal. More than 288 BrahMos cruise missiles are actively fielded by the army whereas 288 more have been kept as backup reserves. The Indian Army possesses one regiment of BrahMos Block-1, two regiments of BrahMos Block-2 along with a single regiment of Block-3 of the weapon system.

The Indian Army’s Rajasthan based Regiments- 861, 862 and 863 and Arunachal Pradesh based Regiment- 864 possess 72 missiles each. Regiment-861 is armed with the Block-1 version whereas Regiments- 862 and 863 are armed with the more advanced Block-2 versions. Only Regiment-864 boasts the latest Block-3 version of BrahMos.

Recently, 40 Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets of the Indian Air Force have been upgraded to carry the air-launched cruise missile version of the weapon (named BrahMos-A). More than 200 BrahMos-A missiles are currently undergoing the acquisition process. Plans are also underway for deploying BrahMos-A onboard the Indian Navy’s Ilyushin Il-38 and Tupolev Tu-142 maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircrafts. A lighter Next Generation (NG) variant of the missile is planned to be developed for deployment onboard the IAF’s LCA-Tejas, MiG-29 and the Dassault Rafale fighter jets.

Meanwhile, all tests of BrahMos ALCM (Air Launched Cruise Missile) from a Sukhoi-30 fighter jet have been successfully completed. With the conclusion of the tests, the ALCM version of BrahMos has been operationally deployed with the Indian Air Force in battle-ready configurations in peninsular India. Moreover, the upcoming NG (Next Generation) version of the missile will be ready for integration with Tejas and MiG-29 fighter-bombers of the Indian Airforce.

Battleship-based weapons

With a range of up to 124 km and capable of carrying a warhead weighing 221 kg, the Harpoon is a formidable air-launched stand-off weapon system. The missile is also capable of executing ground-strike roles and is in the process of integration with IAF’s Jaguar fighter bombers and the Indian Navy’s P8I maritime aircraft. India has already ordered 24 Harpoon Block-2 missiles for the navy and another 22 missiles for the IAF. Plans are also afoot to arm the Shishumar-class diesel-electric submarines with Harpoon missiles.

Another weapon system which is in widespread deployment with the Indian Navy is the Exocet cruise missile system. Designed and manufactured by MBDA, the Exocet is the mainstay weapon of the Kalvari-class of conventional diesel-electric submarines which are being built for the Indian Navy under ‘Project-75’. All six Kalvari-class submarines, i.e. INS Kalvari, INS Khanderi, INS Karanj, INS Vela, INS Vagir and INS Vagsheer will be armed with the Exocet missile system. The subsonic missile having a launch mass of 670 kg is designed to carry a 165 kg warhead up to 180 km range.

Indigenous hypersonic killer

The ongoing HSTDV (Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle) project will be one of the most devastating tactical level hypersonic cruise missiles in India’s arsenal when it is commissioned into the Indian Armed forces after long-duration flight-testing of prototypes in the near future. Powered by an indigenously developed scramjet engine and capable of flying at potential speeds of up to Mach-12 (14,817 km per hour), it can evade any kind of anti-aircraft and current generation endo-atmospheric anti-missile systems in the world due to its super-hypersonic velocity. The first prototype was a 5.6-meter-long aerial vehicle which featured a flattened octagonal cross section with mid-body stub-wings and raked tail fins along with a 3.7-meter rectangular section air intake. The scramjet engine in the missile is located under the mid-body, with the aft-body serving as part of the exhaust nozzle.

Two parallel fences in the forebody are meant to reduce spillage and increase thrust. Part span flaps are provided at the trailing edge of the wings for roll control. A deflectable nozzle cowl at the combustor end can deflect up to 25 degrees to ensure satisfactory performance during power-off and power-on phases. Surfaces of the airframe’s bottom, wings and tail are made up of Titanium alloy, while Aluminium alloy comprises the top surface. The inner surface of the double-wall engine is Niobium alloy and the outer surface is made from Nimonic alloy. Designing and ground testing of technologies regarding aerodynamics, aerothermodynamics, engines and hot-structures of the weapon system is already complete.

Work is currently in progress on mechanical and electrical integration, control and guidance systems along with their packaging, checkout system, HILS (Hardware in Loop Simulation) and launch readiness. HSTDV will be capable of carrying conventional, nuclear and thermonuclear warheads up to unspecified ranges. According to credible sources in the DRDO, the fifth prototype is ready for a longer duration flight endurance test which can be executed soon.

The preparations for the fifth test come after the missile was successfully tested for a duration of up to 20 seconds on September 7, 2020 during its second test. As per various reports, the third and fourth tests of the missile were not successful. The fifth test (codenamed- HS-05) may witness the launch of a modified booster with slow burning propellant.

Must take the legacy forward

At a time when India is emerging as a great 21st century world power with blue-water naval capabilities along with rapidly transforming ground and air forces, next generation hypersonic strike weapons can give the country a true global-strike capability in terms of FOBS (Fractional Orbital Bombardment System) in ballistic missiles and long-range cruise missiles.

Improved research and development activities in hypersonic rocket propulsion will not just provide devastating firepower to the Indian Armed Forces, but can also pave the way towards low-cost access to space for launching satellites into low earth orbit. While India is somehow on the right path, policymaking still remains in a quagmire due to possible geopolitical pressures and involvement of various vested interest groups including arms control lobbies.

With Pakistan and China in the neighbourhood, the Indian government must not bow down before pressure groups. The process of India’s rigorous and widespread weaponisation should continue rapidly in an unabated manner over the coming years. Published By: Rishabh Sharma Published On: Apr 18, 2023 --- ENDS ---

India Focuses on Long Range Naval Missiles Development

India has multiple anti-ship and land attack missiles under development to cater to the diverse needs of the indian navy and indian air force (iaf). here is an overview of these on-going programs..

Adithya Krishna Menon 14 Dec 2023

These naval missile programs include derivatives of the Nirbhay subsonic cruise missile, development of a new subsonic Naval Anti-Ship Missile (NASM) series, range extension program for the supersonic BrahMos missile, development of BrahMos NG and a ballistic Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRAShM).

Nirbhay and derivatives

The Nirbhay subsonic cruise missile with a stated range of 1000 km has been developed by DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE). As of January 2023, eight successful flight trials were revealed to have been conducted. Technologies like thrust vector control to turn the missile into and onto the target plane in-flight wing deployment and in-flight engine start have been proved. Very low altitude flight of up to 5 meters in altitude and navigation systems have also been proven as part of technology development. ADE intends to achieve 100% indigenisation with the missile and its variants which will inherit these proven technologies.

The Small Turbo Fan Engine (STFE) engine developed by DRDO’s GTRE is a major part of this indigenisation attempt. After multiple reported glitches, the STFE has been proven with multiple units being fabricated in recent years for extensive testing. BrahMos Aerospace has been a production agency for the STFE with its unit in Thiruvananthapuram augmenting its production capacity up to 18 engines per annum. GTRE is also seeking more industrial partners to support testing and production activities of the engine, the requirement of which is in the hundreds.

A Submarine Launched Cruise Missile (SLCM) has been indigenously developed from Nirbhay, with two variants: a Land attack cruise missile (LACM) and Anti-Ship Cruise Missile (ASCM). According to an ADE poster released by news agency ANI in November, a trial was revealed to have been conducted in February 2023 and had met all the mission objectives with a range of 402 km:

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is developing a submarine-launched cruise missile with land attack and ship attack variants. The missile was testfired in February this year at a range of 402 kilometres and it achieved all mission objectives in the test pic.twitter.com/8kwvIJmnRY — ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2023

The specifications of the missile were also revealed. It has a stated range of 500 km, with a cruise length of 5.6 meter, diameter of 0.505 meter, all up weight of 975 kg and Mach 0.7 speed. It would feature INS/GPS navigation, with an RF seeker for terminal guidance. The SLCM would have two types of warheads: PCB and airburst, which could depend on whether the SLCM is of the LACM or ASCM variant.

The SLCM is notably more compact than the Nirbhay, with the cruise phase length lower by 0.4 metre, diameter lower by 15 mm and reduction in mass. The substantially lower range of SLCM is likely a result of these dimensional constraints required to fit the missile in torpedo tubes of submarines.

Meanwhile, a longer ranged variant of the Nirbhay is also under development. Known as the Long Range – Land Attack Cruise Missile (LR-LACM), the missile is expected to have a range of up to 1,500 km. This missile would be operated by both the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force when development is complete. This missile would be compatible with the Universal Vertical Launch Module (UVLM) cells used for BrahMos. The airframes for SLCM and LR-LACM are being made by Godrej which has delivered multiple units to support developmental activities.

NASM series

The NASM series is a family of subsonic missiles being developed by DRDO’s RCI. The only missile currently known to have been tested is the NASM-SR short range missile. First tested in May 2022 ,  the Indian Navy recently announced that “guided flight trials” of NASM-SR were successfully conducted on November 21, 2023. A Seaking 42B helicopter is being used for developmental activities. The 375 kg, 3.6 meter long missile is propelled by a solid rocket booster with a stated maximum range of 55 km. The missile features a terminal IIR seeker. An omni-directional multi-EFP warhead weighing 100 kg has been developed for the missile. Approval for future procurement of the missile was granted in December 20 22 .

On November 30, 2023 approval was granted for future procurement of Medium Range Anti-Ship Missiles (MRAShM) for surface platforms of the Indian Navy. “The MRAShM is envisaged as a lightweight Surface-to-Surface Missile which will be a primary offensive weapon onboard Indian Naval Ships,” according to a press release .

While the missile intended to meet this requirement remains unconfirmed, the NASM-MR being developed by DRDO is a contender. The turbojet propelled missile will have a range of about 300 km and can be launched from both air and ground. The missile can be equipped with an IIR seeker as well as RF seeker. A MiG-29K would be capable of carrying four such missiles. About 450 MRAShM are expected to be procured.

A project to develop ‘Glidefire’ surface to surface missiles with help from the private industry is also progressing. This missile would be lightweight, modular and will use “hybrid propulsion.” The missile is intended to be launched from UVLM cells as well as modular scalable ship based launchers. The tentative requirement is for at least 100 such missiles.

While these subsonic missiles will begin replacing imported systems currently in use such as Kh-35, Klub, Exocet and Harpoon from 2027, the bulk of the Indian Navy’s strike capability will continue to be provided by the supersonic BrahMos missile. While older ships such as the Rajput class continue to test these missiles, new destroyers such as the Visakhapatnam class vessel Imphal have also tested extended range versions of BrahMos, in what is the first such extended range test before commissioning of any Indian warship. The range extension gives the missile a range of over 500 km. Further extension in range along with indigenisation of the missile subsystems is under progress.

A smaller version of the BrahMos, dubbed BrahMos NG, is also under development. Maiden firing of the 1,500 kg missile is expected to occur within a few months. The missile would be compatible with multiple aircraft, unlike the BrahMos ALCM which can be carried only by modified Su-30 MKIs.

Information regarding the LRAShM mostly stems from open source references to the program. Based on these, the missile is likely to have a diameter of 1.4 meter and a length of about 14 meters. Total weight is less than 20 tons. It is likely that the development of this missile is closely associated with the submarine launched K4 and the land launched Agni-1 Prime ballistic missiles. The expected range of the missile is at least 1,500 km, with hypersonic glide warheads being a possibility.

In late September, India issued a notification for a no fly zone over the Bay of Bengal between October 5 and 9. The area had a maximum length of about 2,000 km. On October 6, local media sources reported that a successful test of LRAShM was conducted. Such a range would enable the Indian Navy to threaten PLAN assets in the Sunda Strait using land based missiles in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with the right ISR support. The Sunda Strait has been an area of concern for India since it is used increasingly by PLAN assets to enter the Indian Ocean, away from the Strait of Malacca which is dominated by the Indian Navy and IAF.

Tigersharks high on Adrenalin after a long SUNDAy stretch. pic.twitter.com/VEGakVaCP5 — Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) December 2, 2023

While occasional forays by IAF and the Navy vessels currently keep watch over Sunda, the ongoing expansion of the Navy along with diverse and numerous indigenous armament can be expected to give India the decisive capability it desires over access to the Indian Ocean. Regional partners such as Australia are also pursuing acquisition of long strike assets such as Tomahawk while other partners such as Japan and Philippines are also acquiring substantial strike capability. The initial delivery of BrahMos missiles to Philippines is slated to occur this month. Such exports will be attempted with the NASM series of missiles as well as BrahMos NG.

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India Test Launches Indigenous Cruise Missile

India has test-launched its Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM) powered by a domestically-developed engine, news outlets reported, citing sources.

This was the fourth test of the technology demonstrator, coming after a failure in October.

The ITCM is based on the Nirbhay long-range subsonic cruise missile, featuring the indigenous small turbofan engine (STFE). The Nirbhay is powered by a Russian NPO Saturn 36MT engine.

Indigenous Engine, RF Seeker 

The Gas Turbine Research Establishment-developed STFE is a twin-spool generic engine with a thrust of 460 Kilograms. 

The missile features an upgraded radio frequency seeker developed by the Defense Research Development Organisation (DRDO) laboratory Research Centre Imarat.

Previous Test Launches

The DRDO first test launched the ICTM in 2020. The trial saw the missile deviate from its predetermined path, forcing the control room to destroy it mid-air.

Its second launch was partially successful, as the engine performed properly despite the missile again deviating from its original flight path.  

The missile’s engine malfunctioned in its third test launch, marking its second failure in three attempts.

New Cruise Missile Demonstrator

The ICTM is the precursor of the long-range land attack cruise missile program being developed for land and sea. The versions are expected to strike targets 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) and 1,500 kilometers (932 miles) away.

“The engine will be used in long-range cruise missiles after a couple of more tests. Once the perfection is achieved, several variants of the cruise missile equipped with a turbofan engine can be developed in the future,” The New Indian Express quoted a source as saying.

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‘Hit its target': India successfully tests BrahMos supersonic cruise missile

Air chief marshal vr chaudhari congratulated on the successful test-firing of the missile..

India successfully tested a surface-to-surface BrahMos supersonic cruise missile in Andaman and Nicobar on Wednesday, defence officials said. It added that the extended range missile hit its target with pinpoint accuracy.

Air chief marshal VR Chaudhari congratulated on the successful test-firing of the cruise missile. He is in the Island territory of Andaman & Nicobar to review operational preparedness, news agency ANI quoted defence officials as saying.

Earlier this month, the Indian Navy had successfully demonstrated the accuracy of an extended-range land-attack Brahmos supersonic cruise missile from the stealth destroyer INS Chennai.

Also Read | India, Philippines sign $375-million BrahMos missile deal

The missile had hit its intended target with pinpoint accuracy after traversing an extended range trajectory and performing complex manoeuvres, added the navy officials.

Both Brahmos missile and INS Chennai are indigenously built and highlight the cutting-edge of Indian missile and ship-building prowess. They reinforce the Indian Navy's contribution towards the Atma Nirbhar Bharat and Make in India endeavours, stated the officials.

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Indian committee OKs $4 billion buy of BrahMos missiles, more tech

Editor’s note: Vivek Raghuvanshi, a journalist and freelancer to Defense News for more than three decades, was  jailed  in mid-May by India’s Central Bureau of Investigation on charges of espionage. The Indian government has released minimal information on his arrest. Sightline Media Group, which owns Defense News, has not seen any evidence to substantiate these charges and repudiates attacks on press freedom.

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — The Indian government is closer to buying a multibillion-dollar package of cruise missiles, air defense weapons, surveillance radars and fighter jet engines following approval from the country’s highest decision-making body on security affairs.

At a Feb. 21 meeting, the Cabinet Committee on Security approved the four procurement projects cumulatively worth about 350 billion rupees (U.S. $4 billion).

According to local media reports quoting government sources, the approved items were BrahMos cruise missiles for the Navy, air defense guns for the Army, ground-based air surveillance radars and new engines for the Air Force’s MiG-29 fighters.

Approval by the committee, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs, is a necessary step along the Defence Ministry’s contractual pathway.

Local media reported the BrahMos missile deal would be signed in March. The consolidated contract would include some 220 weapons to arm Indian frigates and destroyers — the largest-ever individual BrahMos order for India.

The contract will reportedly involve a mix of standard 290-kilometer-range (180-mile-range) and extended 450-kilometer-range (280-mile-range) BrahMos missiles, of which 75% is locally made.

“The BrahMos is expected to considerably enhance the potential for surface-to-surface attacks by Indian Navy ships, especially with extended-range missiles,” Rahul Bhonsle, a director of the New Delhi-based consultancy Security Risks Asia, told Defense News.

India is also exporting BrahMos missiles to the Philippines under a deal worth about $375 million signed in January 2022. Atul Rane, who leads the missile manufacturer BrahMos Aerospace, said last year the company has set a goal of exporting $5 billion worth of BrahMos weapons by 2025.

The committee also approved the purchase of Sudarshan air defense systems from private firm Larsen & Toubro — an acquisition worth approximately $844 million. The Army would use the systems, which feature radars and 40mm guns, to protect its installations and the country’s border areas.

A scale model depicts a 40mm towed gun used on the Sudarshan air defense system, as developed by Larsen & Toubro in India. (Gordon Arthur/Staff)

The Sudarshan approval followed an October 2022 request for procurement seeking 141,576 ammunition rounds to accompany 220 guns, including pre-fragmented, programmable proximity fuses and smart rounds.

The Sudarshan is also competing in an Air Force competition for 244 close-in weapon systems.

“Air defense guns have assumed importance because of the overall weak air and missile defense profile with dated equipment, with the Indian Army in particular, and the add-on threat from drones,” Bhonsle explained.

The Indian Army relies on antiquated Bofors L/70 and ZU-23-2B towed guns, and their replacement has become urgent given the emerging threat of drones and loitering munitions .

Larsen & Toubro is also set to provide the air surveillance radars, worth about $723 million. India is prioritizing better radar coverage of its northern and western borders to guard against Chinese and Pakistani aircraft, respectively. Augmenting the existing radar network in phases, the Air Force will operate the new indigenous sensors.

And Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. is to manufacture new RD-33MK engines for MiG-29 fighters in collaboration with Russia, with the project worth about $639 million.

These projects underscore India’s attempts to maximize indigenous input. The Make in India economic policy seems to be gaining groud, Bhonsle said.

“However, it should be noted there is also considerable foreign collaboration involved in many of the projects, as up to 50% or more is permissible under existing rules for acquisition,” Bhonsle added.

Gordon Arthur is an Asia correspondent for Defense News. After a 20-year stint working in Hong Kong, he now resides in New Zealand. He has attended military exercises and defense exhibitions in about 20 countries around the Asia-Pacific region.

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DRDO tastes maiden success with new turbofan engine in indigenous cruise missile

BHUBANESWAR: In a much-needed technology push, India test-launched Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM) with a new Made-in-India turbofan engine from a defence facility off the Odisha coast on Wednesday.

Defence sources said the ITCM, an advanced version of subsonic cruise missile Nirbhay, was test-fired with small turbofan engine Manik from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at about 10 am.

This was the first developmental trial of the missile with the new indigenous engine after an unsuccessful attempt on October 12 last year as the mission had to abort due to a technical snag in the system.

“Equipped with the new engine the missile was tested for a short-range. The turbofan engine performed well. The focus was on gauging the performance of the engine, which has been validated by clearing decks for further advancement. The next test will be to cover the full range of the missile,” a senior defence official told The New Indian Express .

The first successful test of the Manik engine assumes significance as once mastered, the technology will pave the way for the development of different versions of the engine and long-range much faster cruise missiles.

ALSO READ | Offensive defence: Army to ready its first set of new battle groups by September end

The DRDO has developed a new engine to replace the foreign engine earlier used in the missile system. The small turbofan engine of 400 kg thrust class has been designed and developed by the Bengaluru-based Gas Turbine Research Establishment to propel cruise missiles.

“Manik has state of the art digital control, advanced fuel control, and pyro systems. The twin-spool engine without an afterburner and with high-speed alternator, un-cooled high-pressure turbine blades and shrouded low-pressure turbine blades, makes it different from others,” said a defence scientist.

Developed by DRDO, Nirbhay is India’s first indigenously built cruise missile. After initial hiccups, the weapon system has completed six developmental trials between 2012 and 2019. It will soon be deployed in the armed forces after a couple of user trials.

The two-stage ICTM is six-meter tall with a diameter of 0.52 m, a wingspan of 2.7 m, and a launch weight of about 1.5 tonne. Cruising at a speed of 0.9 Mach it can strike targets at a distance of up to 1,000 km. The cruise missile will supplement the Indo-Russian joint venture supersonic cruise missile BrahMos.

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BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles delivered to Philippines by India

As part of efforts to boost military ties with the philippines, india has decided to post a defence attache to that country along with ethiopia, mozambique, poland and ivory coast..

A military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force transported the missile and the launchers to the Philippines for delivering them to the country's marine forces. In January 2022, India sealed a deal with the Philippines to supply three batteries of the missile. It is the first export of the BrahMos missile by India. A few other countries including Argentina have also shown interest in procuring BrahMos missiles from India.

BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd, an India-Russian joint venture, produces the supersonic cruise missiles that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms. BrahMos missile flies at a speed of 2.8 Mach or almost three times the speed of sound.

India has been looking at further expanding defence ties with the Philippines against the backdrop of growing global concerns over China's increasing military assertiveness in the South China Sea. There have been growing global concerns over China's sweeping claims of sovereignty over all of the South China Sea, a huge source of hydrocarbons.

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Watch: BrahMos Cruise Missile Delivered To Philippines - A 1st For India

The Indian Air Force sent its American-origin C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft with the missiles to the Philippines to deliver the weapon system to the Philippines' Marine Corps.

This is the first time India is delivering the BrahMos missile to a foreign country.

India delivered the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines on Friday, as part of the $375 million deal between the two sides signed in 2022.

#WATCH | BrahMos supersonic cruise Missiles delivered to the Philippines by India today. The two countries had signed a deal worth USD 375 million in 2022. pic.twitter.com/CLdoxiChb5 — ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2024

Indian officials offered sweets to the Philippines Marine Corps officers on the delivery of the BrahMos missile.

#WATCH | Indian officials offering sweets to the Philippines Marine Corps officers on the delivery of the BrahMos missile to the Philippines under an export order of USD 375 million. pic.twitter.com/qzhLsMxOLu — ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2024

The export of ground systems for the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system along with the missiles started last month. This is the first time India is delivering the BrahMos missile to a foreign country. 

The Philippines is taking delivery of the missile systems at a time when tensions between them and China have escalated owing to frequent clashes in the South China Sea. The three batteries of the BrahMos missile system would be deployed by the Philippines in their coastal areas to guard against any threat in the region.

The deal has been cleared with multiple approvals from partner nations in the programme.

The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, a joint venture between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Russian Federation's NPO Mashinostroyeniya, is said to be one of the most successful missile programs in the world. Acknowledged as the foremost and swiftest precision-guided weapon on a global scale, BRAHMOS has played a pivotal role in enhancing India's deterrence capabilities.

The Indian Army has integrated multiple BrahMos regiments into its arsenal since 2007. 

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The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile has a two-stage solid propellant booster engine as its first stage which takes it to supersonic speed. The second stage is the liquid ramjet engine which takes it closer to Mach 3 (3 times the speed of sound) speed in the cruise phase.

The BrahMos missile is universal for multiple platforms and can be launched from air, land, and sea platforms. The missile works on the 'Fire and Forget principle', meaning it doesn't require further guidance after launch, and it maintains a high supersonic throughout the flight. The missile is said to have a low radar signature.

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India sends first batch of brahmos to philippines.

India delivered BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines under a $375 million deal signed in 2022. The Indian Air Force utilized C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft to deliver the missiles to the Philippines' Marine Corps. Ground systems for the BrahMos missile system were exported last month.

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• Missiles of the World

Missiles of India

India’s missile arsenal serves a number of purposes in New Delhi’s defense strategy. Foremost, it support’s New Delhi’s nuclear deterrent posture against its main rivals Pakistan and China. The latter requirement has pushed India to develop longer-range missiles and to diversify its delivery platforms beyond mobile land-based missiles. To this end, India is developing ship- and sub-launched ballistic missiles and has collaborated with Russia on cruise missile development.

Ostensibly these developments are all to support India’s minimum deterrence doctrine. Yet as India’s missile arsenal develops, its nuclear doctrine may also evolve. This potential development is highlighted, for example, by Indian investment in multiple independently-guided reentry vehicle (MIRV) technology. Still, there is little discussion in India about abandoning its declared no-first-use policy.

North Korea says it tested 'super-large' cruise missile warhead and new anti-aircraft missile

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea said Saturday it tested a “super-large” cruise missile warhead and a new anti-aircraft missile in a western coastal area as it expands military capabilities in the face of deepening tensions with the United States and South Korea.

North Korean state media said the country’s missile administration on Friday conducted a “power test” for the warhead designed for the Hwasal-1 Ra-3 strategic cruise missile and a test-launch of the Pyoljji-1-2 anti-aircraft missile. It said the tests attained an unspecified “certain goal.”

Photos released by the North’s official Korean Central News Agency showed at least two missiles being fired off launcher trucks at a runway.

North Korea conducted a similar set of tests Feb. 2, but at the time did not specify the names of the cruise missile or the anti-aircraft missile, indicating it was possibly seeing technological progress after testing the same system over weeks.

KCNA insisted Friday’s tests were part of the North’s regular military development activities and had nothing to do with the “surrounding situation.”

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are at their highest in years, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un dialing up his weapons demonstrations, which have included more powerful missiles aimed at the U.S. mainland and U.S. targets in the Pacific. The United States, South Korea and Japan have responded by expanding their combined military training and sharpening their deterrence strategies built around strategic U.S. assets.

Cruise missiles are among a growing collection of North Korean weapons designed to overwhelm regional missile defenses. They supplement the North’s vast lineup of ballistic missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles aimed at the continental United States.

Analysts say anti-aircraft missile technology is an area where North Korea could benefit from its deepening military cooperation with Russia , as the two countries align in the face of their separate, intensifying confrontations with the U.S. The United States and South Korea have accused North Korea of providing artillery shells and other equipment to Russia to help extend its warfighting in Ukraine.

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North Korea says it tested ‘super-large’ cruise missile warhead and new anti-aircraft missile

Korean Central News Agency released photos showing at least two missiles being fired off launcher trucks on a runway. The missiles in the image were not identified. State media said North Korea’s missile administration on Friday conducted a ‘power test’ for the warhead designed for the Hwasal-1 Ra-3 strategic cruise missile and a test-launch of the Pyoljji-1-2 anti-aircraft missile.

The South Korean and U.S. air forces held joint air drills in Gunsan, South Korea on Friday, where they practiced ways to detect and counter enemy threats.

A TV screen shows an image of North Korea’s missile launch during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, April 20, 2024. North Korea said Saturday it tested a “super-large” cruise missile warhead and a new anti-aircraft missile in a western coastal area as it expands military capabilities in the face of deepening tensions with the United States and South Korea. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

• Copy Link copied

South Korean army soldiers pass by the barbed-wire fence in Paju, South Korea, near the border with North Korea, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

A U.S. Army soldier from the Eighth Army and South Korean army soldiers throw simulated grenades during the Expert Soldier, Infantry, and Medic Badge (E3B) competition at the Rodriguez Live Fire Complex in Pocheon, South Korea, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

U.S. Army soldiers from the Eighth Army compete during the Expert Soldier, Infantry, and Medic Badge (E3B) competition at the Rodriguez Live Fire Complex in Pocheon, South Korea, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea said Saturday it tested a “super-large” cruise missile warhead and a new anti-aircraft missile in a western coastal area as it expands military capabilities in the face of deepening tensions with the United States and South Korea.

North Korean state media said the country’s missile administration on Friday conducted a “power test” for the warhead designed for the Hwasal-1 Ra-3 strategic cruise missile and a test-launch of the Pyoljji-1-2 anti-aircraft missile. It said the tests attained an unspecified “certain goal.”

Photos released by the North’s official Korean Central News Agency showed at least two missiles being fired off launcher trucks at a runway.

North Korea conducted a similar set of tests Feb. 2, but at the time did not specify the names of the cruise missile or the anti-aircraft missile, indicating it was possibly seeing technological progress after testing the same system over weeks.

KCNA insisted Friday’s tests were part of the North’s regular military development activities and had nothing to do with the “surrounding situation.”

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are at their highest in years, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un dialing up his weapons demonstrations, which have included more powerful missiles aimed at the U.S. mainland and U.S. targets in the Pacific. The United States, South Korea and Japan have responded by expanding their combined military training and sharpening their deterrence strategies built around strategic U.S. assets.

Cruise missiles are among a growing collection of North Korean weapons designed to overwhelm regional missile defenses. They supplement the North’s vast lineup of ballistic missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles aimed at the continental United States.

Analysts say anti-aircraft missile technology is an area where North Korea could benefit from its deepening military cooperation with Russia , as the two countries align in the face of their separate, intensifying confrontations with the U.S. The United States and South Korea have accused North Korea of providing artillery shells and other equipment to Russia to help extend its warfighting in Ukraine.

North Korea conducts cruise missile warhead test on Friday, KCNA says

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Reporting by Heekyong Yang and Josh Smith; Editing by Chris Reese and Bill Berkrot

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World Chevron

US House passes $95 billion Ukraine, Israel aid package, sends to Senate

The unusual four-bill package also includes funds for Israel, security assistance for Taiwan and allies in the Indo-Pacific, and a measure that includes sanctions, a threat to ban the Chinese-owned social media app TikTok, and the potential transfer of seized Russian assets to Ukraine.

North Korea says it tested ‘super-large’ cruise missile warhead and new anti-aircraft missile

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea said Saturday it tested a “super-large” cruise missile warhead and a new anti-aircraft missile in a western coastal area as it expands military capabilities in the face of deepening tensions with the United States and South Korea.

North Korean state media said the country’s missile administration on Friday conducted a “power test” for the warhead designed for the Hwasal-1 Ra-3 strategic cruise missile and a test-launch of the Pyoljji-1-2 anti-aircraft missile. It said the tests attained an unspecified “certain goal.”

Photos released by the North’s official Korean Central News Agency showed at least two missiles being fired off launcher trucks at a runway.

North Korea conducted a similar set of tests Feb. 2, but at the time did not specify the names of the cruise missile or the anti-aircraft missile, indicating it was possibly seeing technological progress after testing the same system over weeks.

KCNA insisted Friday’s tests were part of the North’s regular military development activities and had nothing to do with the “surrounding situation.”

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are at their highest in years, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un dialing up his weapons demonstrations, which have included more powerful missiles aimed at the U.S. mainland and U.S. targets in the Pacific. The United States, South Korea and Japan have responded by expanding their combined military training and sharpening their deterrence strategies built around strategic U.S. assets.

Cruise missiles are among a  growing collection of North Korean weapons  designed to overwhelm regional missile defenses. They supplement the North’s vast lineup of ballistic missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles aimed at the continental United States.

Analysts say anti-aircraft missile technology is an area where North Korea could benefit from its  deepening military cooperation with Russia , as the two countries align in the face of their separate, intensifying confrontations with the U.S. The United States and South Korea have accused North Korea of providing artillery shells and other equipment to Russia to help extend its warfighting in Ukraine.

The Associated Press