To return to the main
Missile Exports to India entry, see the Missile Exports to
India
file.
2/12/2003: THIRD BRAHMOS TEST SUCCESSFUL
India has conducted its third successful test of the PJ-10 anti-ship cruise missile
designed by the
BrahMos Joint Venture. It was the first test launch from a
ship, the Indian Navy's Soviet-built modified Kashin-class destroyer Rajput. The missile carried a 200kg
payload to a range of 290km.[1] Shortly before the test, on 29 January 2003,
India's Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said that a number of countries have
expressed interest in the missile. Vajpayee did not specify which countries
were interested, or whether they were involved in contract negotiations.[2]
2/1/2003: RUSSIA PROPOSES ATBM SYSTEM INTEGRATION
Jane's Missiles and Rockets reported on 1 February 2003 that during
Vladimir Putin's visit to India in December 2002, the Russian delegation offered India
the incorporation of the S-300V [NATO designation SA-12] surface-to-air
missile system, that has anti-tactical ballistic missile (ATBM) capabilities,
into an integrated air defense system. The
system would include Russian, Indian, and Israeli components.
12/12/2002: CRUISE MISSILE TEST
PLAGUED BY DELAYS
All India Radio Home News Service reported on 12 December 2002 that the final
tests of the anti-ship cruise missile developed by the
BrahMos Joint Venture
were to be completed within the next two months.[1] However, a
missile test scheduled for late December 2002 was postponed several times
due to unspecified problems with its subsystems,[2] and its final date was still being discussed as late as 13 January
2003.[3]
9/22/2002: LATEST BRAHMOS PLANS CALL FOR COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION OF CRUISE
MISSILES IN 2004
A report published in The Indian Express on 22
September 2002 indicated that the Russian-Indian joint venture BrahMos intends
to begin commercial production of its supersonic cruise missile in
2004. This announcement by the CEO of BrahMos, Dr. Sivathanu Pillai, who also
acts as Chief Controller, Research and Development, for the Defense Research
and Development Organization (DRDO), revised earlier plans that set the
beginning of production for the end of 2003.[1] The BrahMos cruise missile
underwent successful test firing in June 2001 and April 2002 and can be
launched from surface ships, aircraft, submarines, and land-based launchers. Also known as the PJ-10,
the missile, whose range is 280 kilometers (174 miles), will be
produced for use by the Indian and Russian militaries as well as for
export.[2] The BrahMos cruise missile is modeled after the
Yakhont missile developed for
export by NPO Mashinostroyeniya. Branch offices of the joint venture in Hyderabad and Moscow will
market the missiles for export to countries such as Malaysia and South
Africa, which reportedly have expressed interest in the system.[1]
8/20/2002: INDIAN
NAVY CHIEF OF STAFF VIEWS MISSILE SYSTEMS DURING VISIT TO RUSSIA
The Chief of Staff of the
Indian Navy, Admiral Madhvendra Singh, visited St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg,
and Severomorsk at the end of August 2002 at the invitation of his Russian
counterpart Admiral Vladimir Kuroyedov.[1,2] In Yekaterinburg, the Indian
delegation visited the
Novator Experimental Design Bureau, which produces the Kalibr-PLE and the Kalibr-NKE (Club)
integrated missile systems. The Club system is a family of anti-ship,
anti-submarine, and land attack missiles which can be delivered from surface
ships and submarines. The Indian delegation also examined armaments displayed
at the Russia Expo Arms-2002 exhibition.[1] For more information on the visit,
see the 8/20/2002 entry in the
Nuclear Exports to India section.
7/1/2002: NUMBER OF CLUB-EQUIPPED SUBMARINES INCREASES
Jane's Missiles and Rockets
reported on 1 August 2002 that four Indian Project 877EKM [NATO name 'Kilo']
diesel/electric submarines have already been fitted with the
Club system in Russian shipyards. A
fifth will receive the system during a refit that is scheduled to begin in
July or August 2002. India has purchased the system's 3M54E anti-ship
missiles, but may also purchase the 3M14E land-attack variant. The missile
system was validated during six successful text launches from three Indian
submarines in the Baltic Sea. However, an April 2001 test launch from INS
Sindhushastra failed, reportedly due to problems with the target vessel.
4/10/2002: BRAHMOS TO LAUNCH PRODUCTION OF MISSILES BY THE END OF 2003
The Times of India reported on 10 April 2002
that the Russian-Indian joint venture BrahMos expects to begin full-scale
production of supersonic cruise missiles by the end of 2003. The missiles will be
produced for export customers and the Russian and
Indian navies. According to
officials, the missiles will be marketed in countries approved by both parties.[1] Although the cost of a
single missile has not been determined, officials state that most likely
it will not exceed $2 million. Russian experts estimate that
at this price the venture could bring in about $4 billion a
year if the highly optimistic hopes of selling approximately 200 missiles a
year are realized.[2] Prior to engaging in trade, Russia and India intend to induct
the missiles into their armed forces. The plan will be discussed in
greater detail during the forthcoming visit to Moscow of India's Defense
Minister George Fernandes.[1]
2/5/2002: BRAHMOS TO CONTINUE CRUISE MISSILE
FLIGHT TESTS
As reported by
The Asian Age on 5 February
2002, the cruise missile being developed by the Russian-Indian joint venture BrahMos,
known as the PJ-10, will continue flight tests beginning in May 2002.
Dr. V. K. Aatre, scientific advisor to the Indian Defense Minister, commented
that after the tests are completed it will be possible to decide when the
missile will begin production. The first flight test was successfully
conducted on 12 June 2001
at the Chandipur test site in the state of Orissa
on the eastern coast of India. For more
information on characteristics of the missile, see the
6/14/2001 entry below.
12/27/2001: INDIA ADOPTS KHRUNICHEV CRYOGENIC BOOSTER
Khrunichev Scientific Production Center General Director Aleksandr Medvedev announced on 27 December 2001
that the 12KRB cryogenic booster unit developed at the Khrunichev center under
an Indian contract has been adopted by India, thanks to its first successful
test flight as part of India's GSLV rocket. According to Medvedev, it was a
landmark event for India which thus joined the limited number of states
capable of launching satellites into geostationary orbits. According to Medvedev, India and Russia also agreed on further development of the booster.
9/2/2001: RUSSIAN-INDIAN CRUISE MISSILE TO
ADHERE TO MTCR RESTRICTIONS
Defense News reported on 2 September 2001
that the cruise missile being developed by the Russian-Indian joint venture
BrahMos will adhere to MTCR restrictions. Although the article did not
specify the name of the cruise missile, it is most likely the PJ-10, which was
tested on 12 June 2001. Alexander Maksichev,
assigned to BrahMos from NPO Mashinostroyeniya, stated that adherence to the
MTCR was written into the contract between India and Russia, even though India
is not a member of the MTCR. The
missile will be limited to a range of under 300km and a payload of
no more than 500kg. Maksichev also said that the cruise
missile will not be designed to carry a nuclear warhead. UK defense industrialists voiced concerns that exports of the new cruise missile, which
is a derivative of the NPO Mashinostroyeniya-designed Oniks/Yakhont [NATO
designation SS-NX-26], could potentially breach MTCR restrictions. India will
also have a greater technological capacity to develop advanced cruise
missiles with payloads and ranges in excess of MTCR guidelines. India is
reported to be considering an air-launched derivative of the cruise missile.
6/14/2001: RUSSIAN-INDIAN
CRUISE MISSILE TEST
Citing India's Ministry of Defense announcement, Nezavisimaya
gazeta reported on 14 June 2001 a test of a supersonic cruise missile that
was jointly developed by Russia (which provided the propulsion system) and
India (which provided the guidance apparatus). The test was conducted at the
Indian Chandipur test site in the Indian state of Orissa on the eastern coast of India.[1]
The PJ-10, which was designed to meet Indian Navy
specifications, was created by BrahMos, a Russian-Indian joint venture founded
in 1998 involving NPO Mashinostroyeniya, which designs tactical and strategic
ballistic and cruise missiles, and Indian Defense Research and Development
Organization (DRDO), a governmental organization conducting defense research
projects. It is based on the NPO Mashinostroyeniya-designed Oniks/Yakhont [NATO
designation SS-NX-26] ramjet-powered supersonic anti-ship cruise missile, and
uses an Indian-designed guidance system. Russia and India shared the financing
of the new missile design, with Russia contributing $122 million and India
$128 million. The Indian government holds the majority of shares in the joint
venture, and therefore has the decisive voice in the running of BrahMos. The
cooperation on the missile will reportedly include its joint production, and
that the production of the missile's components will be equally shared by
Russian and Indian firms. The missile will also be offered for export.[2,3] Like the Oniks/Yakhont, the PJ-10 will be available in ground-, air-, ship-
and submarine-launched variants. According to the Indian newspaper The Hindu,
cited in a Nezavisimaya gazeta article, the new missile is a product of
India's efforts to create a nuclear deterrent.[4] The missile reportedly has a
maximum range of 280km, a launch weight of 3t, and a length of 6.9m,
characteristics similar to those of the Oniks/Yakhont.[5]
4/9/2001: KHRUNICHEV TO SUPPLY ROCKET BOOSTERS TO INDIA
For more information please see the
4/9/2001 entry in the Russia:
Delivery Vehicle Facilities: M.V. Khrunichev State Space Scientific Production
Center.
2/17/2001: RUSSIA LEASES TU-22M3 BOMBERS TO
INDIA
Izvestiya reported on 17 February 2001 that
Russia signed a contract to lease four Tu-22M3 [NATO name 'Backfire'] bombers to India.[1]
Eight Indian crews were already undergoing operation training for the bombers
in Ryazan at the time of the signing.[2] Press reports have not
specified which, if any, weapons would be supplied with the bombers. The
primary weapon system of the Tu-22M3 is the Kh-22 [NATO designation AS-4 'Kitchen']
nuclear-capable supersonic cruise missile. Because Kh-22 cruise missiles can carry
a 1000kg warhead to a distance of 400km, their export to India would violate Missile
Technology Control Regime (MTCR) rules. Russia maintains that the Tu-22M3
bombers are not strategic weapons and that any cruise missiles supplied with the
aircraft would only be
armed with conventional warheads.[3]
11/18/2000: FIRST CRUISE MISSILE-ARMED INDIAN SUBMARINE ARRIVES IN INDIA'S
WATERS
The Hindu reported on 18 November 2000 that INS Sindhushastra, the Indian Navy's
first Project 877EKM [NATO name 'Kilo'] diesel-electric submarine equipped
with the Club missile system entered India's home waters a few days earlier.[1]
The Sindhushastra is the final, tenth ship of this class ordered by India
from Russia.[2] The ship was commissioned in St. Petersburg in July 2000 and began its
voyage home in August 2000. The Sindhushastra is also the first of the
Indian Navy's planned four Club-armed Kilo-class submarines. Three additional
submarines are being refitted in Russian shipyards to accept this missile
system and are expected to return to Indian Navy service by 2001. While the Sindhushastra
is armed with the anti-ship variant of the Club system, the other three
submarines are expected to be armed with the land-attack variant as well,
which Indian sources state has a range of nearly 500km.[3]
8/9/2000: CIA REPORT SAYS RUSSIA SUPPLIED BALLISTIC
MISSILE TECHNOLOGY TO INDIA IN 1999
A CIA report to Congress released on 9 August 2000 stated that India received ballistic
missile-related goods and technical knowledge from Russian
entities in 1999. For more information, see the 8/9/2000
entry in the General Missile Export
Developments file.
12/10/99: INDIAN
FRIGATES AND SUBMARINES TO RECEIVE RUSSIAN CRUISE MISSILES
ITAR-TASS reported on 10 December 1999 that four
Russian-built Project 877EKM [NATO name 'Kilo'] diesel-electric submarines
in Indian service will be armed with the Club missile system, which includes
the 3M-54E (sometimes referred to as Alfa) anti-ship cruise missile [NATO
designation SS-NX-27] with a range of up to 220km and the 91RE1
anti-submarine missile. The four submarines include three vessels already in
Indian service and one still under construction in Russia.[1] According to an agreement signed on 5 November 1999, Russia
will transfer 3M-54E technology to India, enabling it to produce these weapons and
develop other, domestic missiles based on the 3M-54E. According to some reports, India has
already begun work on a 1200km land-attack cruise missile.[2] In addition to the
submarines, the Club system will arm Indian surface warships. India ordered
three Russian Project 1135.6 frigates which will also be armed with the Club
system, and there are reports that the system will eventually equip Delhi-class
destroyers.[2,3]
Last updated 10 June 2003
Comments or questions? Contact Michael Jasinski at MIIS CNS: Michael.Jasinski@miis.edu
This material is produced independently for NTI
by the Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the
Monterey Institute of International Studies and
does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has
not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers,
employees, agents. Copyright © 2002 by MIIS.
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