? BrahMos Emerges as Game‑Changer
India’s BrahMos supersonic cruise missile has captured global attention following its effective use in Operation Sindoor—India’s response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. According to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, over 14 countries are now signaling interest, and exports will even originate from Lucknow’s new testing facility. 1
? Countries Eager to Buy
Emerging partnerships stretch across continents:
- Vietnam: Negotiating a $700 million deal for both army and naval systems. 2
- Brazil & Latin America: Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and Venezuela are eyeing coastal or naval variants. 3
- Southeast Asia: Malaysia (Su‑30MKM, Kedah warships), Indonesia ($200–450 million deal), Thailand, Singapore, Brunei. 4
- Middle East & Africa: UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, South Africa, and Bulgaria in advanced talks. 5
- Philippines: First export partner under 2022 contract—three coastal batteries worth $375 million, with the second batch dispatched in April 2025. 6
? Lucknow Rises as Defence Hub
Lucknow now hosts a cutting‑edge BrahMos integration and testing facility. It aims to support manufacturing of key components like titanium casings and scale up output to 80–150 missiles annually within the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor. 7
? What Makes BrahMos Stand Out?
- Co-developed by India (DRDO) and Russia (NPOM), fully test‑fired since June 2001. 8
- Fires up to Mach 3, at altitudes from 15 km cruise to 10 m terminal; range of 290 km (extended variants now pushing 400 km+). 9
- Features include stealth tech, ‘fire and forget’ guidance, <1 m accuracy, and a 200–300 kg warhead. 10
- Highly versatile platforms—land, sea, submarine, and air-launched (Su‑30MKI). 11
? Timeline & Key Events
- June 12, 2001: First test launch off Odisha coast. 12
- Jan 2022: $375 million deal with Philippines signed. 13
- Apr 2024–Apr 2025: Delivery of first two batches of coastal batteries to the Philippines. 14
- Apr 22, 2025: Operation Sindoor strikes occur; Pakistan acknowledges BrahMos use. 15
- Jul 13, 2025: Rajnath Singh unveils Lucknow facility, announces export interest from 14+ countries. 16
? Trivia & Quiz Questions
- Which defence minister announced the global interest surge? Rajnath Singh.
- Which missile speed classification does BrahMos belong to? Supersonic (Mach 3).
- How many countries have shown interest post-Operation Sindoor? Over 14.
- Which city now hosts a testing and integration facility? Lucknow.
- Name a Latin American country interested in BrahMos. Brazil.
✅ Final Takeaway
India’s BrahMos, part of a joint venture with Russia, has transformed into a globally coveted defence asset. Spurred by its battlefield validation in Operation Sindoor, export deals are advancing with Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. With new industrial scaling in Lucknow, India is poised to become a major player in the global arms market.
Source: Moneycontrol