Round The World

New Delhi, 20 November 2013

‘BrahMos’Testing

INDIA IN THE BIG RACE

By Prof Arvind Kumar

(Dept of Geopolitics & Intl Relations, Manipal University)

The testing of India’s supersonic cruise missile ‘BrahMos’ by the Army at Pokhran test range has been to mainly demonstrate its technology and also validate the consistency in the payload and range. The block III variant of BrahMos with deep penetration capability has been test launched from a Mobile Autonomous Launcher. It must be emphasized here that the missile after launch followed the predetermined trajectory and successfully pierced the designated concrete structure and was in consonance with the technological parameters. Indeed, it has successfully validated the deep penetration capability of the supersonic cruise missile system against hardened targets.

Importantly, the Army has already inducted two regiments of the supersonic cruise missiles in its arsenal. Currently, it seems that the third regiment induction is in progress. The 290 km supersonic cruise missile BrahMos flew at a speed of 2.9 Mach and carries a conventional warhead of up to 300 kg and can be launched from multiple platforms including land, sea, and air.

The race and competition for acquiring the best cruise missile by many powers began after seeing its relevance and effectiveness during the Gulf War, which was fought in the early 1990s’ and also during the ongoing global war on terrorism since October 2001. The advances made in the field of technology of cruise missiles have demonstrated its effectiveness as crucial delivery systems for selected chemical and biological agents. These have now created possible ways by which these cruise missiles could accurately deliver these payloads at subsonic speeds insuring the greater survivability of the agent.

India’s attempt in acquiring and enhancing its missile capability has largely been seen in the context of technological advances and its national security concerns. The developments in cruise missile capability more particularly in the past little over a decade have demonstrated that New Delhi has been putting its efforts very consistently in acquiring Subsonic, Supersonic and Hypersonic cruise missiles. It tested its supersonic cruise missile ‘BrahMos’ on 18 November 2013 and demonstrated its intent and advances in the technological sphere.

The supersonic cruise missile can be launched from submarines, ships and aircrafts. The sea and ground launched versions have already been inducted to the Navy and Army respectively. The supersonic missile ‘BrahMos’ can be launched at any angle and covers a 360 degree radius. There are a number of advantages of the supersonic missile including the long range and the supersonic speed to target, which reduces the flight time and enables it to engage at a faster pace during the case of any eventuality. It must be pointed out that the missile is very much effective against ship self defence systems.

Overall, the developments made in the launch tube of the cruise missile have been phenomenal in India’s context. The tube is very important and it has lot of relevance to many applications including storage and launch. The supersonic missile enhances its destructive effect because of the release of high kinetic energy when missile hits target. The missile’s high speed causes extensive damage to the target. Such cruise missiles would provide India with accurate long range guidance for coastal, littoral and blue water ship targets by incorporating the low cost integrated global positioning system.

The development of supersonic cruise missile by India has been the byproduct of the emerging regional security environment. China in India’s neighbourhood has been very actively developing and deploying cruise missiles for the past over four-and-half decades. Beijing in its early era of development concentrated on mostly short range cruise missiles with a focus on anti-ship and coastal defence requirements.

The neighbour is reported to have acquired the Soviet Styx missile technology way back during late 1950s. Chinese anti-ship missile is stated to be based on reverse engineering of the French Exocet missile. China’s Hai Ying (HY) series of cruise missiles from HY-1 to HY-4 and Ying Ji (YJ) series YJ – 6, YJ – 62, YJ – 82 are all anti-ship cruise missiles. The HY-1 AND HY-2 and YJ-6 are liquid propellant systems whereas, HY-3 uses Ramjet, HY-4, YJ-62, YJ-82 uses Turbojet propulsion. The range of HY series varies from 80 km to 150 km and the range of YJ series varies from 100 km to 280 km. China currently is far advanced than India’s indigenous cruise missile programme and has reached a level where it can use the triad (land, sea and air) of their launch platforms.

India has been in the process of integrating its heavier air platforms like Su – 30 MKI with its Brahmos anti–ship cruise missiles. The range of Brahmos is approximately 290 km and hence does not fall in the Harpoon class of missiles, whose role has been more of tactical than strategic. The AGM – 84 L as mentioned elsewhere in this article is the air launched version of the Harpoons. The length of the AGM – 84 L is 3.84 metres, width 0.34 metres and the overall approximate weight is 526 kg. The missile will assist the Navy to develop and enhance standardization and operational ability with the US. The Harpoon has been procured by many US allies especially by the NATO countries – Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the UK, etc.

Undoubtedly, there has never been a better positive climate than the current one between India and the US especially for military sales. The rationale for Indian requirements, which has been well articulated, has been understood by the Americans in the existing international security environment. The keenness on the part of the US to help New Delhi signals a quantum shift in its policy and approach. The US sale of around two dozens of Harpoon Block II missiles to India would cost around $ US 170 million. The question is whether it would add to India’s security or whether it has been acting on the US pressure to pay a price for the Indo-US civil nuclear cooperation. Whatever be the reason, it is certainly going to be beneficial for India in the current international security environment if it acquires such cruise missiles. However, such emerging cooperation will have negative consequences for Southern Asia. ---INFA

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