New Delhi

When Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in India on Thursday, New Delhi and Moscow are expected to hold discussions on advancing the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile programme—an asset that played a decisive role for the Indian armed forces during the four-day Operation Sindoor against Pakistan.

Defence officials told ANI that India is increasingly focused on developing lighter, next-generation versions of the missile—such as the BrahMos NG—which can be integrated across the Indian Air Force’s fleet. The NG variant is being designed for a strike range of over 400 km, while longer-range versions under consideration could be capable of engaging targets at more than triple the current distance.

According to the sources, this subject is likely to feature prominently in the agenda when leaders of both nations meet. The BrahMos project, jointly developed by India and Russia, is widely viewed as one of the most successful models of bilateral defence cooperation.

In the lead-up to Putin’s visit, the two sides have also explored prospects for collaboration in hypersonic missile technology and extended-range air-to-air missiles. The Russian President will be in India for a two-day trip.

India is also poised to approve the acquisition of 280 additional missiles for the S-400 Sudarshan Chakra air defence system, which was effectively employed against multiple Pakistani targets across various regions.

The Indian Navy, Army, and Air Force have all expanded their inventories of BrahMos systems in recent years. Beyond domestic deployment, India has achieved a significant export breakthrough with the Philippines and is eyeing further sales across the Asian region.

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Known for its high speed and precision, the BrahMos has proven difficult for adversaries to intercept and performed with consistent accuracy during India’s confrontation with Pakistan in May this year.