New Delhi. The Ministry of Defence has signed a ₹661.50-crore contract with BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited for the supply of BRAHMOS Fire Control Systems and launchers for Indian Navy warships, in a move aimed at expanding the fleet’s long-range maritime strike capability.
The agreement was signed in New Delhi in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. It was concluded under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category, which prioritises equipment that is indigenously designed, developed and manufactured. The contract will support the installation of BRAHMOS systems on frontline naval vessels.
The BRAHMOS weapon system is the Indian Navy’s principal surface-to-surface missile for maritime strike operations. Capable of engaging both land and sea targets at extended ranges and supersonic speeds, it gives major surface combatants a rapid-response precision strike option against hostile naval assets and selected land-based targets.
The new procurement covers two closely integrated elements. The launcher physically carries and fires the missiles, while the fire-control system manages target acquisition, tracking, engagement planning and launch coordination. Together, they form the shipboard architecture required to operate BRAHMOS effectively in a complex maritime environment.
The systems are expected to be fitted on frontline warships, including modern destroyers, frigates and other major surface combatants. The order will help extend BRAHMOS coverage across the Navy’s operational fleet as new ships enter service and older platforms receive upgrades. BRAHMOS is already deployed on several Indian warships and has become a central component of the Navy’s conventional anti-ship strike capability.
The contract carries a minimum indigenous-content requirement of 68 per cent. The ministry said the programme would increase participation by Indian defence companies, including micro, small and medium enterprises. It is also expected to generate employment over three years and strengthen domestic supply chains for missile systems, electronics, launch equipment and associated integration work.
The agreement forms part of India’s wider effort to reduce dependence on imported defence equipment while expanding domestic production. The Buy (Indian-IDDM) route is designed to encourage Indian design capability and local manufacturing rather than simply assembling equipment acquired from abroad.
BrahMos Aerospace is a joint venture associated with India and Russia. The company’s missile family is deployed in land-, sea- and air-launched variants by the Indian Armed Forces. The Indian Navy was the first service to introduce the missile operationally, and ship-launched BRAHMOS systems have since become a familiar feature of India’s surface fleet.
The Navy’s investment in the system comes as India seeks to maintain a stronger and more persistent presence across the Indian Ocean Region. Missile-equipped warships can deter hostile action, protect sea lanes and respond quickly during maritime contingencies. The combination of supersonic speed, precision guidance and flexible targeting is intended to reduce an adversary’s reaction time.
The contract also builds on previous BRAHMOS acquisitions. In 2024, India signed major agreements for additional BRAHMOS-ER missiles and shipborne launch systems for naval platforms. The latest order focuses on launchers and fire-control equipment, which are essential for integrating the missiles with individual warships and ensuring that they can be employed as part of a networked fleet.
For the government, the deal represents both an operational upgrade and an industrial-policy milestone. For the Navy, it promises additional missile-ready ships. For Indian manufacturers, it offers a sustained production opportunity in one of the country’s most important defence programmes.
