Defence Ministry Signs Rs 17,000 Cr Deal To Buy 35 BrahMos Missiles For Navy

The defence ministry signed a deal with BrahMos Aerospace for the purchase of 35 additional dual-role capable surface-to-surface BrahMos missiles for the Indian Navy on Thursday. 

The deal costs Rs 17,000 crore, which will boost the government's ambitious Aatmanirbhar Bharat mission in the defence manufacturing sector.

The BrahMos missile has a range of 290 km and is the fastest cruise missile in the world with a top speed of Mach 2.8 (nearly three times the speed of sound). The extended-range variant tested by IAF in May had a range of 450–500 km.

According to the statement, the induction of these dual-role-capable missiles will significantly enhance the operational capability of Indian Navy fleet assets.

Brahmos Aerospace, the missile manufacturer will be required to provide the Indian Navy with 35 combat and three training BrahMos missile systems for its two Project 15B ships, or the guided-missile stealth destroyers of the Visakhapatnam class.

The Indian Navy commissioned the first warship of the Visakhapatnam-class, or P-15B, in November last year in Mumbai. Within two months of its induction, INS Visakhapatnam successfully conducted the test-firing of an upgraded variant of the BrahMos anti-ship missile. It was subsequently followed by another successful test firing on February 18 this year.

The P-15B or Visakhapatnam Class has four warships scheduled for induction. The warships are the Mormugao, Surat, Imphal, and Visakhapatnam.

To give the new generation of Surface-to-Surface Missiles (SSMs), a greater range and dual function capabilities for land and anti-ship attacks, India and Russia have formed the joint venture company BrahMos Aerospace.

As per the government, "With the active engagement of indigenous industry, this contract is going to offer a further boost to indigenous manufacture of the important weapon system and ammunition."