The cruise missile arsenal of India

BrahMos and Nirbhay cruise missiles - Striking the enemy at their hearts 

As the name defines these missiles basically cruise to deliver their payload to a designated target and decimate the intended target. Cruise missiles are usually powered by jet engine, Scramjet and Ramjet being the latest technology. Cruise missiles are extremely cost effective and clubbed with its speed and unique capabilities can cause havoc our enemy territory. The unique capability of the cruise missiles is its ability to employ low hugging trajectory and terrain hugging abilities thus making it extremely difficult to be detected. Cruise missiles are classified based on the speed they can attain during the powered phase of the flight, subsonic cruise missiles travel at a speed lesser than the speed of sound approximately at around 0.8 mach. Subsonic cruise missiles are the most cost effective delivery system with ‘Tomahawk and Klub’ being the best examples.

Supersonic missiles travel approximately at around 2-3 mach i.e. covers almost a kilometer/second during its powered phase of the flight. BrahMos jointly developed by India and Russia is the only versatile Supersonic cruise missile. Even though other cruise missile systems attain supersonic speeds it is restricted only to the terminal phase of the flight. Medium range cruise missiles are preferred over long range missiles, owing to the operational cost.  Hypersonic missiles are still under development and can attain speeds up to 5-6 mach. Incidentally BrahMos Aerospace will be fielding its BrahMos – II, a hypersonic cruise missile capable of attaining speeds up to 7 mach by 2017.   

 
BrahMos - The fastest cruise missile

India has the fastest and the deadliest cruise missile in its arsenal, BrahMos. BrahMos jointly developed by India and Russia is currently the fastest cruise missile in service. BrahMos Aerospace a private company which works independently off the political circles was setup by India and Russia to develop the most reliable delivery systems. BrahMos is a portmanteau of the rivers Indian and Russian rivers Brahmaputra and Moskva. The ‘missile man’ of India APJ Abdul Kalam and the then Russian deputy defense minister N V Mikhailov were instrumental in conceiving BrahMos and worked relentlessly to forge a reliable space for the joint development of latest aerospace technologies.

A joint venture was signed between Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia NPO Mashinostroyenia. The project took baby steps with India securing 50.5 % share and Russia holding 49.5% share, and the company was finally setup through an Inter-Governmental agreement at Delhi on 12^th February 1998. Russian government and Indian government pitched in US $123 and US $127 million respectively for the project. The aim was to develop a deadly medium-range strike missile that would feature superior stealth and delivery systems compared to the western missile systems. After working out key details BrahMos was decided to be developed around Russia’s proven Oniks system.

Source - DRDO

DRDO and NPOM worked closely to freeze a technologically advanced missile system and to effectively cut the cost throughout the process to reduce the burden on both the states. DRDO developed state-of-the-art navigational systems, mission software’s and mobile launchers for the missile system. NPOM started development of Ramjet engine which could power the system to supersonic speeds. In the October, 1999 BrahMos Aerospace came out with a two stage missile system powered by ramjet engine. With Russia being a signatory to the MTCR the range of the missile was restricted to 290 Km.

The Ramjet engine of the missile is powered by NPOM developed a two stage engine. The first stage of the engine is powered by solid propellant and the first stage propels the missile to supersonic speeds and during the cruise phase the second stage by powered by a liquid propellant kicks in helping the missile attains speed up to 3 mach making it the fastest cruise missile in the world. The missile can carry conventional warheads weighing 300 kg. The missile’s strike capability is enhanced due to the enormous kinetic energy it packs which is multiplied by its speed and weight.  

Source - Net

BrahMos was test fired from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur on 12^th June 2001 in VTL configuration. Repeated configuration and validation tests followed over the course of ten years, the missile system evolved with every test. BrahMos was fired from INS Ranvir in VTL configuration on 18^th December 2008. The missile was thus successfully launched from two of its planned platforms and was then cleared for user trials by Indian forces. In 2010 Indian Army and Indian navy started their user configuration and validation tests and the system was tested without any hindrance in a campaign that lasted for almost two months. It was during this campaign BrahMos attained an astonishing 3.2 mach velocity thus becoming the fastest cruise missile in terminal phases.   

The development and success with BrahMos has been a never ending process, the missile has evolved over the years and is now currently in Block III configuration. Till date 35 validation and configuration tests have been carried out. The BrahMos team attained another milestone when the Submarine-launched version was fired from a submerged pontoon from off the Visakhapatnam. BrahMos-A the air launched version is expected to be test fired shortly from an IAF Su-30. Two Su-30 haven been refurbished by Sukhoi for carrying the missile, the system will be 2-3 meters shorter compared to the conventional missile and has been developed with special materials to drastically reduce the weight of the system. BrahMos – M a smaller variant of the BrahMos – A is also being designed to be fired from other jets. BrahMos has made head way in developing BrahMos – II, a hypersonic missile system which is slated to be test fired by 2018.

Source - Livefist

Indian navy has deployed BrahMos on its destroyers and frigates. The latest Kolkata and Visakhapatnam class destroyers have been equipped with two 8-cell BrahMos launchers which can house the land attack and anti ship variants.  Frigates have been armed with land attack BrahMos VLS systems. The army has deployed four regiments of the BrahMos and each regiment contains about six launch batteries and at least 90 missiles. Indian Air Force (IAF) has placed an order for 200 air launched version of the BrahMos.

 Nirbhay – Made in India

The home grown Nirbhay, is a multi-platform all weather cruise missile. The missile can carry a maximum payload of one tonne and can strike targets up to 1000 km. Nirbhay is a two-stage missile system with loitering capability. Equipped with the state-of-the-art ring-laser gyroscope the missile has pin point accuracy and can strike targets minimal collateral damages. Nirbhay is also capable of flying at extremely low altitude and with its terrain hugging technology the missile can fly at tree levels thus avoiding any contact with radar systems. This helps in reducing the reaction time of the enemies. 

Source - Tarmak 007

The first stage of Nirbhay is powered by a ramjet engine which propels the missile to high altitude and the second stage is powered by a gas turbine engine which helps in attaining better maneuverability at the  terminal powered phase of the flight. Once the missile attains its cruise phase the missile is powered by the gas turbines and winglets which help in maneuvering and strike the designated target.  The missile is based on fire and forget system which cannot be jammed by any of the latest systems. Powered by a gas turbine engine and the winglet the missile has the unique capability of hovering over the target just before striking. The missile is equipped with inertial guidance system which relies on ISRO's IRNSS satellite system. 

Source - Tarmak 007

Nirbhay is capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional warheads. Initially Nirbhay will be launched from a mobile launcher which has been developed by Tata. Further development will guarantee the launch of Nirbhay from Aerial and Naval platforms. The missile will supplement BrahMos with its extended range. The first test of the missile took place in February 2013, the test was a partial success as the missile was destroyed half way to its target after it showed diversion in its trajectory. The missile was again tested in October 2014, the missile delivered the package to the designated target flying flawlessly through the skies. Nirbhay is expected to enter service in less than three years. India also has the Exocet and Harpoon missiles in its arsenal.