From 290-km BrahMos to a proposed 1,500-km variant: How Operation Sindoor boosted India's missile profile

India’s BrahMos supersonic cruise missile has evolved from a weapon with an initial range of around 290 km into a family of land-, sea- and air-launched systems, with a proposed 1,500-km variant now on the drawing board. Its reported use during Operation Sindoor in May 2025 and India's growing defence-export ambitions have brought renewed attention to the missile, which has been acquired by the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia.

BrahMos Aerospace is also developing a lighter, next-generation version of the missile, BrahMos-NG, with its first prototype expected in 2027 or 2028. The company is exploring a longer-range variant, but the 1,500-km capability remains at the conceptual stage, according to a report published by Moneycontrol on October 22, 2026.

Also Read: BrahMos-NG prototype by 2027-28, 1,500-km range missile on future roadmap: BrahMos chief

BrahMos timeline

1998: India and Russia establish BrahMos Aerospace

The BrahMos programme began with an intergovernmental agreement signed by India and Russia on February 12, 1998. The agreement paved the way for BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyenia.

The partnership combined the two countries' expertise to develop a supersonic cruise missile for land-attack and anti-ship missions. The name BrahMos draws from the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers.

2001: First successful test with a range of around 290 km

BrahMos completed its first successful launch on June 12, 2001, from a stationary vertical launcher off the coast of Chandipur in Odisha.

The original missile had a range of around 290 km and could travel at approximately Mach 2.8 to Mach 3, according to BrahMos Aerospace. Its supersonic speed reduces the time available to respond to an incoming missile, while its guidance system allows it to engage designated targets.

2005-2007: The missile enters military service

BrahMos moved from testing to operational deployment, with the Indian Navy inducting the system in 2005 and the Army following in 2007. Its deployment across different platforms expanded the range of missions for which the missile could be used.

The system was designed for land-based and ship-based operations, with subsequent development enabling air-launched deployment as well.

2016-2020: Longer-range development and air-launch capability

India's entry into the Missile Technology Control Regime in 2016 removed a major international restriction on developing missiles with ranges beyond 300 km, although it did not automatically confer approval for every longer-range variant.

BrahMos subsequently developed extended-range capabilities. In 2017, India successfully tested an extended-range version, while the air-launched BrahMos was inducted into the Indian Air Force in 2020 after integration with the Sukhoi-30MKI fighter aircraft.

The air-launched version gave India another option for delivering precision strikes, allowing compatible aircraft to carry the missile and launch it from the air.

2022: The Philippines becomes the first overseas customer

India signed a nearly $375-million agreement with the Philippines in 2022 for BrahMos coastal-defence missile systems. The agreement marked a major step in India's efforts to export advanced defence equipment.

The system offers the Philippines a land-based means of threatening hostile naval vessels approaching its coastline. Its acquisition also reflects Manila's interest in strengthening maritime deterrence amid tensions in the South China Sea.

May 2025: Operation Sindoor brings BrahMos into the spotlight

BrahMos was reported to have been among the weapons used by India during Operation Sindoor, launched in May 2025 following the Pahalgam terror attack. Reports on the operation subsequently identified the missile as one of the systems used in strikes against targets in Pakistan.

The operation drew attention to BrahMos's role in India's precision-strike capabilities. Its high speed, conventional warhead and ability to be launched from different platforms make it a significant component of India's arsenal.

However, the extent of the missile's contribution to specific targets should be assessed using attributed reporting and official statements. India's initial public briefing on May 7, 2025, confirmed strikes against nine sites but did not identify every weapon used in each strike.

The operation also provided a potential reference point for India's defence-export pitch. Demonstrated operational use can help prospective buyers assess a weapon system, although it would be inaccurate to attribute every subsequent export agreement directly to Operation Sindoor.

2026: Vietnam and Indonesia join India's export story

India confirmed a BrahMos export agreement with Vietnam in May 2026, according to Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. The agreement details were not publicly disclosed at the time.

In July 2026, India was reported to have signed a deal to supply Indonesia with two BrahMos missile batteries worth around $200 million. The agreements with Vietnam and Indonesia, following the Philippines contract, expanded India's overseas customer base to three countries.

The acquisitions reflect a shared interest in strengthening maritime security and coastal defence. For countries with extensive coastlines and strategic sea lanes, a mobile coastal-defence missile system can help deter hostile vessels and complicate an adversary's naval planning.

October 2026: BrahMos-NG and a proposed 1,500-km variant

BrahMos Aerospace is developing BrahMos-NG, a smaller and lighter version intended to expand the missile's potential use on aircraft. The company expects to develop its first prototype by 2027 or 2028, according to a Moneycontrol report published on October 22, 2026.

The company is also exploring a longer-range variant capable of reaching up to 1,500 km. The proposal remains at the conceptual stage, and the final range has not been decided.

The potential extension would mark a significant departure from the original 290-km missile. However, the proposed range should not be confused with the performance of systems already in operational service. Development, testing, integration and induction would be needed before a future variant could be described as an operational capability.

Why are other countries buying BrahMos?

BrahMos offers potential buyers a combination of supersonic speed, precision-strike capability and deployment options. The missile can be launched from land, ships and compatible aircraft, although the configurations available to each customer depend on the system purchased and its integration requirements.

For the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia, the system's coastal-defence role is particularly relevant. A mobile land-based launcher can provide a country with a means of threatening hostile ships without having to rely exclusively on its own naval fleet.

Its speed is another consideration. A supersonic missile can reduce the time an adversary has to detect, assess and respond to an incoming threat. The missile's ability to follow different flight paths also adds flexibility to its employment.

The acquisitions are also part of wider defence relationships with India. Purchasing a sophisticated missile system can involve training, maintenance, supporting equipment and long-term technical cooperation, in addition to the missiles themselves.

While several other countries have been discussed as potential customers, interest should not be confused with a completed sale. The Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia are the three overseas customers identified in reporting available in 2026.

What would a 1,500-km BrahMos mean for India?

A missile with a range of up to 1,500 km could potentially allow India to strike targets at substantially greater distances from its launch point. It could expand the options available to military planners and strengthen the country's stand-off strike capabilities.

A longer-range version could also create a different export proposition for countries seeking greater reach. Any such sales, however, would depend on the system's eventual development, export approvals and the requirements of individual buyers.

For now, the 1,500-km figure remains a development ambition rather than an established operational range. BrahMos-NG is a separate but related effort focused on reducing the missile's size and weight, potentially making it suitable for a wider range of aircraft and increasing the number that a compatible platform could carry.

The journey from the original 290-km system to the proposed 1,500-km version therefore represents a continuing development programme, rather than a single completed leap in capability. Operation Sindoor has added a prominent combat dimension to the story, while overseas agreements have strengthened BrahMos's position in India's defence-export ambitions.