India’s Ministry of Defence has signed a contract worth ₹661.50 crore with BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited to procure BrahMos fire control systems and launchers for Indian Navy ships. The agreement was inked in New Delhi on October 6 under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) procurement category in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.
Enhancing Naval Strike Capabilities
The procurement is designed to enhance the Navy’s long-range strike capability by equipping its vessels with systems needed to launch the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. According to the Ministry of Defence, the BrahMos system serves as the service’s primary surface-to-surface missile system for maritime strike operations, capable of engaging land and sea targets at extended ranges with high accuracy at supersonic speeds.
The contract covers the shipborne equipment used to hold and launch the missile, including launchers and the Fire Control System. BrahMos Aerospace has developed two types of launchers: the Universal Vertical Launcher Module (UVLM) and the Quadruple Canisterised Inclined Launcher (QCIL). The Fire Control System processes target data, tracks targets, and enables accurate launches by calculating parameters such as speed, position, and trajectory.
Project Mandates 68 per Cent Indigenous Content
The project mandates a minimum indigenous content of 68 per cent and involves various Indian industries, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Approved under the ‘Buy (Indian-IDDM)’ category, the initiative is expected to generate employment over a three-year period and contribute to the wider indigenization of defense technology.
Around 20 naval warships currently operate the BrahMos missile system on frontline surface combatants such as destroyers and frigates, with the Navy planning to equip additional newly commissioned and upgraded vessels in the coming years following the Defence Acquisition Council’s Acceptance of Necessity in August 2025.
Worth a look