'Continuous work’ since 1998: From supersonic to hypersonic - BrahMos enters next phase of evolution

NEW DELHI: The upgradation and modernisation of the BrahMos cruise missile system is a continuous and ongoing process, with India and Russia now firmly focused on the transition towards hypersonic technologies, a top official of the Russian joint venture partner has said.

Alexander Leonov, CEO and Chief Designer of NPO Mashinostroyeniya, said the two countries are constantly enhancing the jointly produced BrahMos missile, improving its performance and working on next-generation variants, including small-sized missiles and hypersonic platforms.





“We constantly modernise these missiles, improving their characteristics. That is why this is a continuous work. Under the BrahMos project, work is also underway on small-sized missiles and hypersonic technologies,” Leonov said while addressing a conference on cosmonautics here on Friday. His remarks were quoted by Russia’s state-run news agency TASS.

The comments come at a time when India is accelerating its push to develop advanced missile systems amid rapidly evolving regional security challenges, with hypersonic weapons emerging as a key focus area for future warfare.

BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile equipped with advanced guidance and control systems and can be launched from submarines, surface ships, aircraft and land-based platforms. Developed jointly by India and Russia, the missile has become one of the most versatile and reliable strike weapons in India’s arsenal.

The BrahMos project began in 1998 and serial production of the missile started in 2004. It is widely regarded as the brainchild of former president APJ Abdul Kalam, who named it after the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers, reflecting their speed and power.

The missile system’s combat capability was demonstrated during Operation Sindoor in May 2025, when BrahMos carried out pinpoint strikes on crucial enemy targets, reinforcing its role as a precision strike weapon in high-intensity conflict scenarios.

Originally derived from the Russian anti-ship Yakhont supersonic cruise missile, BrahMos has steadily evolved into a symbol of cutting-edge Indo-Russian defence collaboration. Over the years, the project has moved decisively towards indigenous production, with more than 70 per cent of its components now manufactured in India under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.

The emphasis on hypersonic technologies marks the next phase of the programme, as India and Russia seek to stay ahead of emerging missile defence systems and develop weapons capable of travelling at speeds far beyond existing supersonic platforms.

Leonov’s remarks underline that BrahMos is no longer a static weapons programme but a constantly evolving system, reflecting a long-term strategic partnership between New Delhi and Moscow and a shared commitment to next-generation missile technologies.

BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia and is among the fastest operational cruise missiles currently deployed. Powered by a two-stage propulsion system that combines a solid-propellant booster and a liquid-fuelled ramjet engine, the missile sustains speeds of close to Mach 3 throughout its flight. It is equipped with advanced guidance, navigation and control systems that enable high-precision strikes against both land and sea-based targets. A key operational advantage of BrahMos is its versatility, as it can be launched from submarines, surface warships, fighter aircraft and mobile land-based platforms, giving the Indian armed forces a credible multi-domain strike capability designed to penetrate modern air defence systems.

The BrahMos project was initiated in 1998 as a joint venture between India and Russia and is widely regarded as the brainchild of former president APJ Abdul Kalam, who named the missile after the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers. Serial production began in the early 2000s, and the missile has since evolved through multiple upgrades, including extended-range variants and air-launched versions tailored for platforms such as the Su-30MKI. With more than 70 per cent of its components now manufactured in India, BrahMos has become a flagship of the country’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ push while remaining a symbol of cutting-edge Indo-Russian defence cooperation. Its operational use during Operation Sindoor in May 2025 further validated its role as a precision strike weapon and a central pillar of India’s conventional deterrence posture.