Did India “Purposely” Fire BrahMos Missile To Test Pakistan’s Defenses? 3 Years Later, It Digs Holes In Pak’s Image & Bases

In a rare and startling moment of candor, retired Air Marshal Masood Akhtar of Pakistan disclosed what Islamabad has long tried to conceal: one of its prized Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft was damaged during India’s recent airstrike campaign—Operation Sindoor. This comes 3 years after the Pakistanis blamed India for “purposefully” launching the missile.

Speaking on national television in a clip that quickly went viral, Akhtar recounted how Indian forces launched four successive BrahMos missiles during the precision operation.

“Our pilots scrambled to protect the aircraft, but the missiles kept coming,” he said. “The fourth one struck the hangar at Bholari air base, where an AWACS was stationed. It was a hit.”

The clip sparked intense debate, especially as Akhtar’s revelation directly contradicts Pakistan’s official attempts to downplay the incident. It has since raised serious questions about Pakistan’s air defenses and the deadly precision of India’s BrahMos missiles.

Meanwhile, India plans a ‘next generation’ version of the BrahMos missile that can be fitted onto other IAF fighters. The next-generation (NG) BrahMos or a lighter version could be fitted onto smaller platforms like MiG-29, Mirage 2000, and Light Combat Aircraft Tejas.

India Strikes Back: The Execution of Operation Sindoor

Operation Sindoor was launched on the night of May 6-7, in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. The Indian military executed a deep-penetration strike into Pakistani territory with extraordinary precision and speed, leveraging its crown jewel—the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.

Indian forces targeted key military installations at Chaklala, Rafiq, Rahim Yar Khan, and later Sargodha, Bhulari, and Jacobabad—hitting radar stations, command centers, and ammunition depots with surgical precision.

According to Indian media reports, 15 BrahMos missiles were fired during the operation to systematically degrade Pakistan’s air defense network.

Amid speculation that one of the missiles had struck Pakistan’s nuclear-linked Mushaf Air Base near Kirana Hills, India’s Director General of Air Operations, Air Marshal AK Bharti, clarified that no nuclear facility was targeted.

Adding weight to the denial, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed there was no radiation leak or release from any Pakistani nuclear site, effectively dismissing claims of a radioactive incident triggered by the operation.

The message, however, was unmistakable.

As American urban warfare expert Colonel (Retd) John Spencer noted, the operation demonstrated India’s ability to strike “anywhere in Pakistan, anytime,” underscoring the BrahMos missile’s unmatched speed, accuracy, and strategic value. “Chinese and Pakistani air defense systems are no match for BrahMos,” Spencer added, highlighting the missile’s role in establishing Indian dominance in both offensive and defensive domains.

BrahMos: India’s Supersonic Game-Changer

The BrahMos missile stands as India’s fastest and most advanced cruise missile, an engineering triumph forged through Indo-Russian collaboration.

Developed jointly by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia under a landmark agreement signed in February 1998, BrahMos embodies the synergy of two defense powerhouses.

Its name blends the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers, symbolizing the partnership that gave rise to this precision-strike powerhouse. With unmatched speed, accuracy, and versatility, BrahMos defines the forefront of next-generation missile warfare.

First successfully tested on June 12, 2001, and inducted into the Navy by 2005, BrahMos has since evolved into a versatile, multi-platform missile system. It can be launched from land, sea, air, and even submarines, making it one of the few truly universal missile systems in the world.

Powered by a supersonic propulsion system, BrahMos travels at speeds up to Mach 3—three times the speed of sound—slashing response times and making interception extremely difficult. Depending on the variant, its range spans from 290 km to over 800 km, carrying a high-explosive warhead weighing 200 to 300 kilograms.

What sets BrahMos apart is its “Fire and Forget” capability: once launched, it autonomously homes in on its target using precision guidance, requiring no further input. Its stealthy radar signature, high speed throughout the flight, flexible trajectory options, and pinpoint accuracy ensure it hits hard and fast.

Over the years, the missile has been adapted across India’s armed forces: first with the Navy in 2005, followed by the Army in 2007, and later adapted for the Air Force’s Sukhoi-30MKI fighters.

Though tested for years, Operation Sindoor likely marked the BrahMos system’s first real combat deployment, where its speed, accuracy, and deep-strike capability were brought to bear with devastating effect. As India’s go-to supersonic missile, BrahMos has now moved from deterrence to decisive action.

BrahMos is not just a missile—it’s a statement of India’s technological prowess and strategic intent.

BrahMos Variants: Evolving For Every Battlefield

The BrahMos missile family has evolved into a versatile arsenal tailored for every domain—land, sea, air, and undersea—adapting to shifting threats and modern battlefield demands. Its land-attack variants, deployed in Block I, Block II, and Block III configurations, offer tailored capabilities to tackle different conflict scenarios with surgical precision and rapid response.

Deployed Variants

• BrahMos Block I/II/III (Land-Attack): These ground-launched versions have been fine-tuned for high-precision strikes on enemy fortifications, radar systems, and command centers. Block III introduces advanced trajectory control to strike targets in mountainous terrain.

• BrahMos Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM): In service with the Indian Air Force since 2017, this variant is launched from Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets. It gives India a formidable standoff strike capability with a range of 290–500 km.

• BrahMos-MA (Submarine-Launched): Successfully tested in 2013, this variant is designed for vertical launch from submerged submarines. Future versions may be compatible with torpedo tubes, expanding stealth deployment options beneath the sea.

• BrahMos-ER (Extended Range): An upgraded version with a reach of 450–800 km, equipped with an active radar seeker for superior targeting accuracy and longer standoff distance. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has successfully test-fired the air-launched BrahMos-ER, and it is also used by the Indian Navy.

Next-Gen Variants In The Pipeline

• BrahMos-II (Hypersonic): The next leap in missile technology—capable of Mach 8 speeds and a range of up to 1,500 km. It will be powered by a scramjet engine and inspired by Russia’s 3M22 Zircon, making it nearly impossible to intercept.

• BrahMos-NG (Next Generation): A lighter, stealthier, and more lethal version, weighing approximately 1,290 kg, designed for compatibility with a wider range of platforms, including smaller aircraft, warships, and submarines. Trials are slated for 2026.

• NGMMCB (Next-Gen Maritime Mobile Coastal Battery): A shore-based anti-ship system with long-range capability, contracted in 2023 for delivery starting in 2027. Each battery includes four mobile launchers on Tatra trucks, each carrying three BrahMos missiles, ensuring coastal dominance.

A Missile That Pays For Itself

The BrahMos missile project was launched as a high-stakes Indo-Russian collaboration. Its authorized capital is US$250 million, equivalent to over INR 2,135 crore today.

Following the joint agreement signed in 1998, India contributed 50.5%, while Russia funded the remaining 49.5%.

While the exact development cost remains classified, open-source estimates peg the cost of a single BrahMos missile at around INR 34 crore. Given its unmatched speed, precision, and platform versatility, each BrahMos represents a high-value investment in India’s strategic and technological edge.

The BrahMos Misfire: A Costly Slip With Strategic Fallout

In March 2022, a BrahMos supersonic cruise missile—thankfully unarmed—was accidentally launched by the Indian Air Force and crash-landed in an uninhabited area of Pakistan. Though it carried no warhead, the incident rattled regional stability and strained diplomatic ties.

A Court of Inquiry later revealed the cause: the missile’s combat connectors had not been disengaged before movement, a failure attributed to negligence by a convoy commander.

The IAF acknowledged the lapse, but Pakistan rejected the explanation, claiming it tracked the launch of a “supersonic projectile” from Sirsa Air Force Base in North India. Despite this early warning, its defenses failed to intercept the missile.

Pakistan’s strategic community wasn’t convinced. A study by Islamabad-based think tank CISS argued the launch was unlikely to be accidental and hinted at possible deliberate signaling. Some experts even speculated that India may have used the misfire to demonstrate BrahMos’ capabilities for global export promotion.

Meanwhile, the incident came at a tangible cost— INR 24 crore ($3M) to be precise, as disclosed by the Indian government. It also led to the dismissal of three IAF officers, including Wing Commander Abhinav Sharma.

Challenging his termination in court, Sharma’s petition was met with the Centre’s assertion that a court-martial was “inexpedient” given the classified nature of the evidence and “the fact that the international community was interested to know the important practical details regarding the firing of missile.”

BrahMos Export: Powering India’s Global Defense Footprint

The export version, capped at a 290 km range in line with the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) regulations, has drawn buyers despite global sanctions on Russia, BrahMos’ co-developer.

Crucially, India now produces over 70% of BrahMos components domestically, reducing dependency on Russian parts and opening the door to global exports.

The Philippines was the first to sign a confirmed US$375 million deal in 2022 for three shore-based anti-ship batteries—two of which have already been delivered. Manila is now considering follow-on orders worth another US$300 million.

Vietnam is close to finalizing a US$625 million deal for five missile batteries, while Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand have also expressed interest. These potential deals align with India’s Act East policy, offering strategic leverage as tensions simmer due to China’s aggressive posture in the South China Sea.

Beyond Southeast Asia, countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, and Oman view BrahMos as a valuable addition to their defense arsenals—without the geopolitical baggage that often complicates arms deals in Asia. Even Latin American nations—including Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and Venezuela—are eyeing BrahMos for naval and coastal defense roles.

Interest in India’s BrahMos supersonic cruise missile is surging, driven by its proven combat performance. Most notably, during Operation Sindoor, it demonstrated precision and reliability against Pakistani targets.

With its growing export profile, BrahMos is no longer just a missile—it’s a symbol of India’s expanding strategic reach.

BrahMos: A Missile With A Message

Operation Sindoor was not just a retaliatory strike—it was a demonstration. It signaled a doctrinal shift from deterrence to active precision warfare, enabled by a missile that has matured into a global force multiplier.

As India leverages BrahMos not only for national security but for strategic diplomacy and defense exports, the missile has become far more than a weapon. It is a statement of technological ambition, geopolitical intent, and regional dominance.