Serious Threat to China: India’s Powerful BrahMos Cruise Missile Gets Combat Clearance Amid Standoff

Following the announcement that India’s BrahMos air launched cruise missile had become operational in October 2019, the missile received the first ever fleet release clearance on June 10th 2020. This came amid an ongoing standoff between Indian and Chinese forces in the Galwan Valley area, In which Indian sources reported their forces subsequently took over 150 casualties to Chinese units. Clashes were reportedly initiated at the lower levels of the military, and both parties have since taken steps to deescalate and look to a peaceful resolution. The BrahMos’ combat clearance would only be publicised several days after it was given, with the announcement seen alongside reported plans to purchase new units of advanced Russian fighter jets as a show of strength both to deter China and to assuage the public. The BrahMos is cable of reaching speeds of Mach 3 and benefits from an advanced precision guidance system allowing it to engage mobile targets including warships and armoured formations. The missile is reported to have torn warships in half upon impact with its sheer speed, which combined with its long range and considerable payload makes it a very potent asset. The Indian Navy and Army previously deployed ship and ground launched variants of the BrahMos, with the Air Force variant having taken considerably longer to develop. 

The BrahMos is Indian Air Force’s most formidable asset for standoff precision strikes, and was jointly developed with Russia based loosely on the Russian P-800 cruise missile design. Although its range is shorter than the SCALP missile which is expected to be delivered in small numbers with Rafale fighters from France, the BrahMos is approximately four times as fast and is considerably more difficult to intercept. This combined with its ability to reliably engage warships, which the SCALP notably lacks, and its use of the heavier and much longer ranged Su-30MKI as a launch platform makes it a much more dangerous asset. The Su-30MKI is India’s most capable fighter class, and over 250 are currently in service with further orders under consideration. BrahMos missiles launched by the Su-30 will benefit not only from the fighters' long range, but also from their high speed and altitude ceiling which provide the missiles with considerable energy upon launch.