India and Russia are exploring an upgrade of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile to add new capabilities, improve its effectiveness and strengthen its position in international defence markets.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the two countries are jointly producing BrahMos missiles and that it is time to consider adding new characteristics and capabilities to make the system more effective and competitive globally.
The development comes ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India and his scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit. Defence cooperation is expected to feature prominently in the bilateral discussions.
The BrahMos programme is a key example of India-Russia defence cooperation, with the missile developed through a joint venture between India’s DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia.
Beyond BrahMos, the two countries are also expected to discuss other major defence issues, including S-400 deliveries and potential cooperation involving Russia’s Su-57 fifth-generation fighter aircraft.
The proposed BrahMos upgrade could further strengthen India’s indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem while opening greater opportunities for the missile system in international markets.
