By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd) Former Director General of Information Systems, Indian Army

Brahmos with Su-30MKI

Maiden Flight of First Su-30 MKI with BrahMos Missile

Integration of the Su-30 MKI aircraft with the supersonic BrahMos missile and its successful maiden flight last month is a giant strategic stride that largely went unnoticed. The twin-seat multirole Sukoi fighter took off from the HAL airport in Bengaluru and conducted a 45 minute sortie with the missile attached to its underbelly. Developed jointly by India's DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya, Brahmos-A (airborne version) is a modified variant of its basic configuration. It features several design refinements, which include a lighter propulsion system (reduced to 2,500 kg from 3,000 kg) as well as redesigned fins and nose cap. It is the first time in the world that such a heavyweight (2,500 kg) supersonic cruise missile has been integrated on a fighter aircraft. This maiden flight is to be followed by a series of test flights and complete evaluation and certification of BrahMos missile on Su30 MKI aircraft, following which some 40 x 40 Su-30 MKI aircraft are expected to be modified. The airborne version of the BrahMos is reportedly 500 kg lighter. The airborne launchers for the missile are being built by BrahMos Aerospace Thiruvananthapuram Ltd (BATL), a subsidiary of Indo-Russian JV BrahMos Areospace Pvt Ltd (BAPL). HAL had signed a contract with BAPL in 2014 for modification of two Su30 MKI aircraft for integration of BrahMos missile. HAL thanked the vision of late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam who believed such a venture was very much possible. HAL Chairman, T Suvarna Raju stated, "It is a perfect example of Make in India and an engineering marvel in aviation history of the country. It proves that when all agencies come together with one mission, there is nothing impossible”. But it actually is the first in aviation history of the world. What the Sukhoi carrying BrahMos signals is that India can now strike enemy targets with devastating post.

India’s nuclear delivery system is currently based on land-based ballistic missiles (Agni and Prithvi) the nuclear-capable Mirage 2000, Su-30 MKI and Jaguar fighter-bombers. The submarine-launched ballistic missile has been tested from undersea platform but is undergoing further evaluation. The sequence of the Sukhoi-BrahMos combo came about as follows: in 2010, Strategic Forces Command (SFC) proposed two dedicated squadrons (40 Su-30MKI air dominance fighters) for delivery nuclear weapons; in 2012, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved structural and software modifications on 42 x Su-30MKIs and acquire 216 air-launched Brahmos missiles, and: in March 2015, In March 2015 the SFC received the first of these dedicated 42 x Sukhois equipped with the air launched version of the supersonic BrahMos. This lethal combo provides a deadly force multiplier to India; highly capable fourth generation fighter armed with a uniquely destructive supersonic cruise missile. The BrahMos missile travels faster than a bullet (3,700 km per hour) hitting targets with great kinetic energy. The Sukhoi’s top speed of 2,120 km per hour will add extra launch momentum to the missile. The supersonic Brahmos armed with a conventional warhead can penetrate hardened command, control and communication centres but when armed with nuclear warhead, it can be much more devastating. Pakistan has been incessantly wagging her nuclear tail considering that India’s nuclear doctrine is based on ‘second strike’. This has raised many calls at home to revise India’s nuclear doctrine. No revision is actually required because the doctrine effectively covers that should the enemy intent of a nuclear strike be detected, India would respond. Such pre-emptive nuclear strike will therefore ensure that Pakistan’s offensive capability is effectively neutralized, given the pinpoint accuracy of the BrahMos. The Su-30MKI has a maximum range of 3000 km, extendable to 8000 km with in-flight refueling. Adding the BrahMos range, it is a deterrent to China’s nuclear adventurism as well. In case of Pakistan, many targets can well be struck from within Indian airspace. The proposal to export BrahMos missiles to Vietnam has been in the air for some time. India is now member of the MTCR albeit export of the 290 kms BrahMos missile does not violate the MTCR anyway restriction being for missiles with ranges of 300 kms and above. With Vietnam already holding Sukhoi aircraft on its armament inventory, Vietnam too could well opt to the Sukhoi-BrahMos combo especially in face of the increasing aggressiveness of China. As for India, development of the next version of BrahMos is likely to be of longer range, increased speed and greater kinetic energy.