Video shows India firing cruise missile in warning to adversaries

The Indian military has released a video showing its “combat launch” of a long-range cruise missile amid tensions with its nuclear-armed rivals, China and Pakistan.

Newsweek has emailed the Chinese and Pakistani foreign ministries for comment.

Why It Matters

Tensions between India and Pakistan remain high after the two neighbors—armed with about 180 and 170 nuclear warheads, respectively—fought a brief conventional war in May. Meanwhile, India and China have yet to settle their “complicated” border dispute after a deadly clash in June 2020.

The Indian military routinely conducts missile test launches, including nuclear-capable ballistic missiles, over the Indian Ocean—a region considered to be New Delhi’s sphere of influence—to verify their capabilities. Before the latest Indian firing, three Chinese research ships, capable of supporting military missions, were tracked in nearby waters.

What To Know

In footage and images released on Monday by the Indian Army’s Southern Command, a BrahMos missile was launched from an undisclosed location on land toward the Bay of Bengal. The command said the target was hit with what it called “pinpoint accuracy.”

The combat launch aimed to demonstrate the cruise missile’s “unmatched precision, speed and destructive prowess” and reaffirm India’s ability to conduct “decisive long-range precision strikes,” the Southern Command said on the social media platform X.

“The missile, equipped with advanced guidance and control systems, validated its performance, high-speed flight stability and terminal accuracy by engaging a designated target with precision,” the Indian Ministry of Defense said in a press release.

The launch marks a major milestone in the Indian Army’s efforts to strengthen its long-range precision strike capability and reinforce deterrence, the ministry said, adding that the country’s indigenous missile systems are accurate, reliable and effective in combat.

According to the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the BrahMos missile—jointly developed by India and Russia—has a range of up to 310 miles and is capable of conducting both anti-ship and land-attack missions.

In addition to India, the BrahMos missile—which can be launched from land, ships and aircraft—is in service with the Philippines, a United States mutual defense treaty ally that has territorial disputes with China over maritime features in the South China Sea.

What People Are Saying

The Indian Army’s Southern Command said: “The Indian Army’s BrahMos roared across the Bay of Bengal in a combat launch, showcasing unmatched precision, speed and destructive prowess. The missile hit it’s designated target with pinpoint accuracy, reaffirming India’s ability to deliver decisive long-range precision strikes.”

India’s Ministry of Defense said: “The mission met all operational objectives under simulated battle conditions, reaffirming the high state of operational readiness of the Indian Army’s BrahMos units and their capability to undertake real-time precision strike missions to address emerging battlefield challenges.”

What Happens Next

India is expected to continue missile test launches and other military activities in nearby waters despite China’s growing military presence across the Indian Ocean.