India and Russia will begin serial production of the Brahmos anti-ship cruise missile next year. The programme is a joint development by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and NPO Mashinostroyenia.
DRDO is developing the guidance and navigation system, while the Russian company is providing the 6.9m (22.6ft) long missile, the warhead and the propulsion system.
Andrei Strakhov, Mashino-stroyenia director general, says: "Brahmos is a unique cruise missile with the speed of Mach 2.8 and has a strike range of about 300km [160nm]."
Strakhov denies suggestions that the programme violates the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), arguing that Brahmos is a development programme and does not involve the sale of missiles. MTCR restricts the export of weapons capable of carrying a 500kg or higher payload at least 300km, as well as systems intended for the delivery of weapons of mass destruction.
The first firing was from an Indian test range in June last year. The weapon will provide the Indian navy with a counter to China's Sovremenny-class destroyers, which are fitted with Raduga 3M-80 Moskit (SS-N-22 Sunburn) supersonic anti-ship missiles.
It has also been suggested that Brahmos will provide the basis for a land-attack missile to arm India's Sukhoi Su-30s and that a submarine-launched version will be developed.
The Brahmos joint venture, split 49.5%:50.5% between the Russian and Indian organisations that are developing the weapon, also plans to export the missile "to selected friendly countries".
Source: Flight International