MOD signs a deal for dual role Surface-to-Surface BrahMos missile with BAPL

Why is in news? MOD signs a deal for dual role Surface-to-Surface BrahMos missile with BAPL

• The Ministry of Defence (MOD) signed a contract with M/s BrahMos Aerospace Pvt. Ltd. (BAPL) for acquisition of additional dual-role capable Surface to Surface BrahMos missiles at an overall approximate cost of₹ 1700 Crore under “Buy-Indian” Category.
• Induction of these dual-role capable Missiles is going to significantly enhance the operational capability of Indian Navy (IN) fleet assets.
• BAPL is a Joint Venture (JV) between India and Russia making crucial contribution to augment the new generation Surface-to-Surface Missiles (SSMs) with enhanced range and dual role capability for land as well as anti-ship attacks.
• This contract is going to give further boost to indigenous production of critical weapon system and ammunition with active participation of indigenous industry.
• BrahMos Missile system: The BRAHMOS is a medium-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile.
• It's developed as a joint venture between Russia and India. It has derived its name from the names of two rivers, India’s Brahmaputra River and Russia’s Moskva River.
• Brahmos is one of the fastest cruise missiles currently operationally deployed with speed of Mach 2.8, which is nearly 3 times more than the speed of sound.
• It operates on fire and forget principal. Capable of being launched from land, sea, sub-sea and air against sea and land targets.
• Carrying capacity : 300 Kg (both conventional and nuclear), Max Range : 290 Km. Its range was extended to 450 km and plan is to increase it to 600km.
• It is two-stage missile, the first one being solid and the second one ramjet liquid propellant.