After Operation Sindoor, India fast-tracks BrahMos-II hypersonic missile with Mach 8 capability

Following the successful use of BrahMos missiles in Operation Sindoor, India has accelerated the development of its next-generation hypersonic cruise missile, BrahMos-II. Jointly developed with Russia under BrahMos Aerospace, this advanced missile is expected to reach blistering speeds of Mach 6 to Mach 8 and strike targets up to 1,500 kilometres away.

BrahMos-II will be powered by a scramjet engine, a leap over the ramjet system used in current BrahMos variants. Its design draws heavy inspiration from Russia’s 3M22 Zircon, one of the fastest operational missiles in the world. Defence sources confirmed that high-level talks between India and Russia on finalising technical collaboration are expected to resume soon.

The BrahMos-II project, originally announced in 2008, was delayed due to Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) restrictions and high development costs. However, India’s entry into the MTCR in 2016 eased many limitations, and DRDO’s recent scramjet combustor test — which lasted over 1,000 seconds — signalled a major breakthrough.

The missile is expected to be lighter than its predecessor and compatible with platforms like the upcoming LCA Tejas Mk 2. With this development, India is positioning itself to join the select group of nations actively deploying hypersonic weaponry.