The operational induction of the BrahMos-NG into the Indian Air Force (IAF) is going to prove a game-changer, a military veteran has said.
The comments of defense expert and retired IAF pilot, Vijainder K Thakur, come amid the much anticipated cross-domain launch of the BrahMos missile's latest variant from a fighter jet, submarine, and a land-based vehicle.
The comments of defense expert and retired IAF pilot, Vijainder K Thakur, come amid the much anticipated cross-domain launch of the BrahMos missile's latest variant from a fighter jet, submarine, and a land-based vehicle.
Leap Forward in India's Supersonic Missile Arsenal
It is being considered a major leap forward in India's supersonic missile arsenal considering the increase in BrahMos-NG's potency.
Against this background, Thakur underlined that despite what the name BrahMos-NG (next-generation) may suggest, the missile is not an upgraded version of the BrahMos, with better all-around performance.
He noted that actually, it's a clean sheet new design with reduced performance as compared to BrahMos or BrahMos-A.
"The BrahMos-NG was earlier called BrahMos-M (Mini) because it was conceived as a missile that could be carried by medium and light fighters, not just heavy fighters like the Su-30MKI, as is the case with the BrahMos-A," Thakur told Sputnik India on Monday.
The defense pundit added that the nomenclature was likely changed from BrahMos-M to BrahMos-NG to highlight the challenge in developing a smaller lighter missile without sacrificing its lethality to a great extent.
How BrahMos-NG Would Transform LCA Tejas Into a Potent War Machine
"The imperative for reducing the weight of the BrahMos NG to around 1,200 kg from the 3,000 kg of the BrahMos and the 2,500 kg of the BrahMos-A was to enable even a light fighter like the Tejas LCA Mk-1A to carry the missile," Thakur explained.
Notably, this is crucial for equipping India's homegrown combat plane LCA Tejas with the BrahMos as its underwing hardpoint can support a max of 1,250 kg weight including the launcher.
Furthermore, the LCA Mk-1A features an AESA radar.
Thakur opined that by flying at medium altitudes, the fighter will be able to precisely locate and engage targets near the maximum range of the BrahMos-NG, without the long delays associated with target detection and engagement linked with optical or radar imaging satellites.
Furthermore, the LCA Mk-1A features an AESA radar.
Thakur opined that by flying at medium altitudes, the fighter will be able to precisely locate and engage targets near the maximum range of the BrahMos-NG, without the long delays associated with target detection and engagement linked with optical or radar imaging satellites.
"Weapon systems management software of other IAF fighters with similar radars could be similarly upgraded to support carriage of the BrahMos-NG," he summed up.