BRAHMOS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Radars, jetties, airfield and BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles are being deployed at the Indian Navy’s newest base, INS Jatayu, on Minicoy Island in Lakshadweep.

BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missiles

• About: A joint venture between the Defence Research and Development Organisation of India (DRDO) and the NPOM of Russia.

oBrahMos is named for the rivers Brahmaputra and Moskva (Russia).

• Range: 290 km 
• Fastest cruise missile in the world: A top speed of Mach 2.8 (nearly three times the speed of sound).
• Two-stage missile system: Solid propellant engine in the first stage and liquid ramjet in second.
• Multiplatform missile: Can be launched from land, air, and sea and multi capability missile with pinpoint accuracy that works in both day and night irrespective of the weather conditions.
• Operates on the "Fire and Forgets" principle: It does not require further guidance after launch.

Minicoy Islands

• Location: Minicoy Island, the southernmost tip of Lakshadweep, rests 398 kilometers (215 nautical miles) southwest of Kochi, India.
• Dimensions and Proximity: With a land area of 4.80 square kilometers, Minicoy boasts one of the largest lagoons in Lakshadweep. 
• Lies between: The island neighbors the bustling 9° Channel, a crucial shipping route, and lies approximately 130 kilometers north of the Maldivian archipelago.