*India, Russia Team Up for Deadlier BrahMos After Showdown with Pakistan*
New Delhi: India and Russia have launched negotiations to co-develop an advanced variant of the BrahMos missile, following its successful use in Operation Sindoor and subsequent engagements with Pakistan, according to a report by The Economic Times.
Russia has pledged full technical support for the upgrade, with initial talks between New Delhi and Moscow already underway. The next-generation missile is expected to feature an extended range of 800 km—up from the earlier 450 km—following India’s entry into the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in 2016. A maiden test has been conducted, and further trials are planned to validate its enhanced capabilities.
In a parallel boost to domestic defence production, India has inaugurated a ₹3,000 million BrahMos missile facility in Lucknow. Situated within the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor, the plant spans 80 hectares and is designed to produce up to 100 BrahMos missiles and 150 BrahMos-NG units annually.
The BrahMos, jointly developed by India and Russia, was first inducted in 2005 as an anti-ship missile and has since evolved into a multi-platform system deployable from land, sea, air, and sub-sea. The integration of the BrahMos-NG into the Indian Air Force marks a major leap in strike capability, allowing for long-range, high-speed attacks from stand-off distances—minimising pilot risk and enhancing India’s strategic deterrence.
The move aligns with India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, reinforcing self-reliance in defence amid growing regional security challenges.
