New Delhi, December 2, 2025 :
India strengthened its theater-level strike readiness on Tuesday with a successful combat launch of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from a mobile launcher in the Bay of Bengal. Conducted on December 2 under Operation Shakti, the test validated the Army’s ability to execute precision strikes at ranges over 300 km against simulated enemy positions.
The test was carried out by the Eastern Command, led by Lt. Gen. R.C. Tiwari, and integrated real-time drone surveillance for enhanced battlefield awareness. The BrahMos—developed jointly by BrahMos Aerospace, an Indo-Russian collaboration—achieved 99% accuracy, according to DRDO Chairman Dr. Samir V. Kamat.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh praised the launch as a “major force multiplier” for India’s land-based strike formations. The Army currently operates 15 BrahMos regiments, forming a crucial component of its deterrence architecture across the Indo-Pacific, particularly as India counters persistent Chinese assertiveness along the Line of Actual Control.
The test comes shortly after India’s emergency procurement of Heron Mk II UAVs following Operation Sindoor, significantly enhancing unmanned reconnaissance and target acquisition capabilities. The BrahMos missile, with a speed exceeding Mach 3, remains one of the fastest precision-strike cruise missiles in the world and continues to attract export interest from nations such as the Philippines and Vietnam.
Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov welcomed the successful test, emphasizing ongoing upgrades in technology transfer under the Indo-Russian defense partnership.
Looking ahead, the Indian government has allocated ₹5,000 crore for 2026 to accelerate BrahMos-related indigenization and production expansion, a move aimed at bolstering self-reliance under the Make in India defense initiative.
With tensions at the northern border simmering and the Indo-Pacific evolving into a contested strategic arena, the latest BrahMos launch underscores India’s resolve to maintain a credible, high-speed, precision deterrent across multiple theaters.
