The Indian Air Force has first used BrahMos supersonic cruise missile in the war amidst the recent border tension between India and Pakistan. In this mission, called ‘Operation Sindoor’, India targeted many strategic bases inside Pakistan, including the headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed and important military establishments such as Noor Khan Airbase. According to media reports, Jaish’s top commander Abdul Rauf Azhar was also reported killed in these attacks.
The BrahMos missile is a common project in India and Russia, counted among the world’s fastest cruise missiles. Its speed is 2.8 Mac (ie about 3430 km/h) and it can penetrate the target from 290 to 800 km accuracy. BrahMos’ ‘Fire and Forgate’ technology and low-level flight profiles enable it to avoid the enemy’s grip, which makes it successful and fatal attacks.
Pakistan has warned of retaliation, calling these attacks “cowardice”. Although these attacks have not been officially confirmed by India, security experts believe that this first war experiment of BrahMos shows a new twist in the Indian military policy.
With this step, India has made it clear that it is ready to take a more aggressive stand on its safety and retaliation. At the same time, the move has also raised concerns about regional stability and possibility of nuclear weapons on the global platform.