Context

India recently delivered the first batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines, making it the first export order for the supersonic cruise missile.

India sends first batch of BrahMos to Philippines

• Philippines is acquiring the systems under the Horizon 2 of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Programme.
• It is a $375-million deal with India to deliver three batteries of shore-based, anti-ship variants of the BrahMos, becoming the first export customer for the joint venture missile between India and Russia.

About BrahMos

• Introduction: BrahMos is a joint venture between DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya and the missile derives its name from Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers.

• Launch Capability: The missile is capable of being launched from land, sea, sub-sea and air against surface and sea-based targets and has been long inducted by the Indian armed forces.
• Range: The range of the missile was originally capped at 290 km as per obligations of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). 
  • Following India’s entry into the MTCR in 2016, the range has been extended to 450km and work is on to extend it to 600 km and beyond.

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• Technology: BRAHMOS is a Two-Stage Missile with the first stage being solid-propellant booster engine and the second stage being liquid ramjet.
  • The missile has stealth technology and guidance system with advanced embedded software that provides the missile with special features.
• Speed: Up to 3 Mach speed in cruise phase. 
• Altitude: Cruising up to 15 km and Terminal altitude is as low as 10 meters.
• Warhead Capacity: It carries a conventional warhead weighing 200 to 300 kgs.

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