Atul Dinkar Rane, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of BrahMos Aerospace, told RIA Novosti that optimistic projections indicate that the manufacturing of new-generation Brahmos NG missiles may start at the end of 2025 or the middle of 2026.
“We have just completed the preliminary design of the Brahmos NG rocket. We have carried it out in Russia, we have completed the review, and (we) have decided on our worksheet. (The) Design has begun on both sides, (and) the actual detailed design has begun,” he said, adding, “we are preparing the Brahmos NG “for air-based, and we will conduct throw tests. We expect the first test by February-March 2024. Live tests – by the end of 2024 – early 2025. Production may begin in late 2025 – mid-2026.”
The Brahmos NG missile should weigh 1,330 kg, half as much as the first-generation Brahmos missile. In this case, the flight range should be the same 300 km as in the previous version.
On February 11, it was reported that Brahmos plans to offer the NG version to Russia.
Land- and sea-based missiles of a comparable calibre are in Russia’s possession. However, according to Atul Dinkar Rane, the Russian military does not have an aircraft variant. He also mentioned that India is the only country in the world to have such a supersonic cruise missile, and he expressed his desire to sell this option to Russia.
In 2021, the Indian Air Force began testing an aircraft version of the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile with an extended range.
No effect of Western sanctions
Atul Dinkar Rane said the imposition of sanctions against Russia did not affect the company’s operations.
“The trust we have earned from our joint venture partners and the Russian Federation is so great that they are serving us even in the face of financial sanctions,” said Rahne. He confirmed that the company imports goods from Russia, adding that some difficulties have arisen, particularly with the transfer of money.
However, Rane stated that these issues are solvable. “This will continue; we will look at how to send money because, at the end of the day BrahMos is a joint venture, so it will withstand any interference from any side,” he concluded.
Earlier, the chief adviser to the CEO of BrahMos Aerospace, Vice Admiral NN Kumar, spoke about the unsuccessful attempts of Western countries to put pressure on the military-industrial complex of India because of cooperation with Russia. He stressed that with the current leadership, the West would not be able to force the country to change relations with Russia in the defence sphere.
