India is preparing to induct the extended-range BrahMos-ER air-launched cruise missile by 2027, marking a transformative leap in the nation’s precision-strike capabilities. The missile, jointly developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Air Force (IAF), promises to redefine India’s offensive reach across both land and maritime domains.
Weighing approximately 2.3 tonnes and designed without a booster, the BrahMos-ER (Extended Range) is compatible with frontline aircraft such as the Su-30MKI, Rafale, and the upcoming TEJAS Mk-2. This lightweight, booster-less configuration enables seamless integration while enhancing aircraft manoeuvrability and strike efficiency.
The missile boasts a remarkable range of 800 kilometres, significantly extending India’s standoff strike potential. This capability allows Indian fighter jets to engage high-value targets deep inside enemy territory while remaining safely within friendly airspace — a major tactical advantage for operations along the Himalayan and Indo-Pacific theatres.
Having successfully completed flight trials over the Bay of Bengal in June 2025, the BrahMos-ER demonstrated its full-range capability and pinpoint accuracy. It now enters an advanced testing phase focused on Su-30MKI integration and operational validation, with induction expected by late 2027 or early 2028.
Equipped with radar-absorbing materials for stealth, advanced ramjet propulsion to maintain supersonic speeds of nearly Mach 3, and AI-enabled terminal manoeuvres to evade interception, the missile is nearly impossible to detect and neutralise.
The Indian Air Force plans to modify up to 60 Su-30MKI aircraft to carry the BrahMos-ER, effectively transforming them into long-range strategic strike platforms. The Indian Navy, meanwhile, is upgrading its current 450-km BrahMos missiles to the 800-km variant through software enhancements.
Operational deployment from strategic island bases such as Car Nicobar and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands will further enhance flexibility, unpredictability, and deterrence.
Upon induction, BrahMos-ER will be India’s longest-range precision-guided air-launched weapon, consolidating India’s deterrent capability and reinforcing its self-reliance in cutting-edge missile technology under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
