August 23, 2008:
India has ordered 800 more of the new PJ-10
BrahMos missiles. The 3.2 ton BrahMos has a range of 300 kilometers and a 660 pound
warhead. Perhaps the most striking characteristic is its high speed, literally
faster (at up to 3,000 feet per second) than a rifle bullet. Guidance is GPS or
inertial to reach the general area of the target (usually a ship or other small
target), then radar that will identify the specific target and hit it. The
warhead weighs 660 pounds, and the high speed at impact causes additional
damage (because of the weight of the entire missile.)
India and Russia developed the weapon
together, and now offer the BrahMos for export. The high price of each missile,
about $2.3 million, restricts the number of countries that can afford it. The
weapon entered service with the Indian navy in 2005. Different versions of the
PJ-10 can be fired from aircraft, ships,
ground launchers or submarines. The maximum speed of 3,000 kilometers an hour
makes it harder to intercept, and means it takes five minutes or less to reach
its target. The air launched version weighs 2.5 tons, the others, three tons or
more.
The 29 foot long, 670mm diameter
missile is an upgraded version of the Russian SS-NX-26 (Yakhont) missile, which
was in development when the Cold War ended in 1991. Lacking money to finish
development and begin production, the Russian manufacturer made a deal with
India to finish the job. India put up most of the $240 million needed to finally
complete two decades of development. The PJ-10 is also being built in Russia. Efforts
are being made to export up to 2,000. China and Iran have also expressed
interest in the weapon, but only Malaysia, Chile, South Africa, Kuwait and the
UAE (United Arab Emirates) have been approached with a sales pitch. Russia and
India are encouraged enough to invest in BrahMos 2, which will use a scramjet,
instead of a ramjet, in the second stage. This would double speed, and make the
missile much more difficult to defend against.
The large order from India indicates it
plans to make the missile a major weapon system. The BrahMos can carry a
nuclear warhead, but is designed mainly to go after high value targets that
require a large warhead and great accuracy. The BrahMos could take out enemy
headquarters, or key weapons systems (especially those employing electronic or
nuclear weapons.)