ISLAMABAD: The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, jointly developed byIndia and Russia, has encountered significant setbacks that question itsreliability as a precision weapon and its implications for nuclear-armedneighbours India and Pakistan. The system’s most notorious incidentoccurred on March 9, 2022, when an unarmed BrahMos was accidentally firedfrom Ambala in India, penetrating 124 kilometres into Pakistani territorybefore crashing near Mian Channu. This unauthorised launch, which lastedmere minutes, triggered widespread alarm over potential escalation betweenthe two nuclear powers, highlighting critical lapses in safety protocolsduring routine maintenance.
An internal Indian Air Force inquiry later attributed the mishap to humanerror, specifically the failure to disconnect combat connectors from themissile’s junction box prior to transit. This procedural deviation allowedthe system to activate unintentionally when initiated by the commander. Theincident resulted in the termination of three Indian Air Force officers,underscoring accountability measures, yet Pakistan dismissed the findingsas inadequate, describing the event as a grave safety lapse capable ofprovoking nuclear miscalculation. No casualties occurred, but the breachexposed vulnerabilities in handling high-speed, dual-capable platforms inpeacetime.
Beyond this accident, the BrahMos has demonstrated operational limitationsin combat scenarios, particularly during the brief 2025 India-Pakistanconflict known as Operation Sindoor. Launched in May 2025 as a response toa terrorist attack, the operation saw India deploy BrahMos missiles againstPakistani airbases and infrastructure. While Indian sources hailed thestrikes as successful, independent analyses pointed to challenges inachieving single-shot kills. In one reported instance, multiple missiles—upto four in sequence—were required to neutralise a single high-value target,such as a hangar at Bholari airbase, indicating potential issues withtarget saturation and precision under real wartime conditions.
Pakistan’s airborne warning and control systems reportedly tracked someincoming BrahMos trajectories before countermeasures were applied, despitethe missile’s Mach 2.8 speed and low-altitude flight profile. Thismonitoring capability challenges claims of near-invisibility to modernradar networks. Historical precedents, including a 2009 test failure wherea software glitch caused a seven-kilometre miss, have resurfaced in expertdiscussions, suggesting persistent guidance and reliability concerns thatcould undermine confidence in the system’s battlefield efficacy.
A deeper strategic failure lies in the BrahMos’s dual-capable nature,enabling it to carry either conventional or nuclear warheads. Thisambiguity compresses decision timelines during crises, forcing Pakistaninto a perilous “use it or lose it” posture upon detection of a launch.Analysts argue that the absence of clear separation between conventionaland nuclear domains erodes stable deterrence, as any BrahMos firing—whetherintentional or accidental—could be misinterpreted as a nuclear strike. The2022 incident and 2025 deployments amplified these risks, prompting callsfor enhanced confidence-building measures to prevent inadvertent escalation.
Economically, the system’s high unit cost—estimated between $3.5 millionand $5 million—raises questions about cost-effectiveness for tacticaloperations. Critics contend that cheaper alternatives, such as drones orstandoff munitions, could deliver comparable results without strainingresources. Despite these drawbacks, the BrahMos remains a cornerstone ofIndia’s precision strike arsenal, with ongoing developments forextended-range variants. However, repeated failures and inherentambiguities continue to fuel debate over its role in maintaining regionalpeace.
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The episodes involving BrahMos underscore the urgent need for robustsafeguards, transparent communication, and bilateral dialogue to mitigaterisks in one of the world’s most volatile nuclear flashpoints. As bothnations modernise their arsenals, addressing these technical and strategicshortcomings becomes essential to averting future crises.
Cruise Missile
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