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The credibility of the nuclear-capable Brahmos missile, with a 290-kilometer range and the speed 2.5 times that of sound, has been put to question with the recent failure of the missile to hit a target and the exorbitant production cost it entails. A test held on January 20 2009 was deemed unsuccessful since it overshot the target by a kilometer. A vertical launch of the Brahmos missile from INS Ranvir also missed the target at an earlier test.
The Indian Army plans to opt out of the purchase deal with the production agency Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) till the Brahmos missile achieves its full potential in terms of price and performance. The Indian Army had placed an order of 240 Brahmos missiles which is being reconsidered by the Indian Defence Ministry as well.
The Indian Army is also bound by the Defence Acquisition Council which had notified at the time of the initial purchase of the missile in 2006 that the subsequent regiments must incorporate a “multi spectral seeker” (SCAN) for precision guidance. This helps in identifying targets in clusters and the missile does not get deviated from its course.
The Brahmos missile project, a part of the Indo-Russian joint venture, is also heading towards major cost escalation. As of now, each Brahmos missile is costing $5.4 million as opposed to $2.6 million and the cost of arming 2 regiments has escalated from $600 million in 2006 to $1.7 billion in 2008.
As of now, the Indian Army is waiting for DRDO to rectify all its shortcomings in the technical area and it will renegotiate the costs once it is satisfied with the missile. As for DRDO, it plans another test of the missile on February 10 2009.
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