Philippines To Acquire Indian Built Brahmos Cruise Missiles In January

Defense News ,Philippines :- The BrahMos missile, born out of collaboration between India and Russia, stands out as a versatile medium-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile. It boasts the ability to be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms, providing a wide array of tactical applications that benefit various branches of the armed forces.

A key factor contributing to the BrahMos missile effectiveness is its remarkable supersonic speed, reaching Mach 2.8-3.0. This high velocity is crucial for operational success, as it minimizes the time available for a target to respond or intercept the missile. Consequently, this increases the likelihood of the missile evading enemy defenses and successfully reaching its intended target.

The missile propulsion system plays a significant role in its design. It utilizes a two-stage propulsion system, starting with a solid propellant booster engine for initial acceleration. Once a certain speed is achieved, the liquid ramjet, constituting the second stage of propulsion, takes over, ensuring a sustained high-speed cruise. This combination of a solid booster and a liquid-fueled ramjet is pivotal in achieving and maintaining the missile supersonic speeds.

Regarding targeting and navigation, the BrahMos missile incorporates an advanced guidance system featuring inertial navigation, radar guidance, and satellite navigation (GPS/GLONASS). This sophisticated guidance system enables precise targeting, crucial for both anti-ship and land-attack missions.

The BrahMos missile noteworthy payload capacity allows it to carry a substantial warhead. When coupled with its precision and high speed, it becomes a formidable weapon capable of addressing a range of targets.

Furthermore, the missile system undergoes continuous development and upgrades. Variants such as the BrahMos-ER (Extended Range) enhance the missile reach. Ongoing developments include the BrahMos-II, a hypersonic variant, and BrahMos-NG, a smaller version designed for deployment from various aircraft types.

The decision by the Philippines to acquire the BrahMos system is a strategic response to regional security challenges, particularly addressing the escalating maritime assertiveness of neighboring states.