India and Russia could be exploring the possibility of developing advanced variants of BrahMos missiles during the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Defence sources told news agency ANI that there is a need to develop lighter variants of the (yet-to-be operational) BrahMos NG, which can be fitted to different types of fighter jets. According to defence sources, the plan is to develop newer and longer-range versions of the supersonic cruise missiles, which can hit targets over 400 km.
Original BrahMos models were limited to 290 km to comply with international export restrictions. Upgraded land- and ship-launched versions now achieve 450-500 km.
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The reports of possible discussions on developing newer variants of the missiles come even as India, which successfully exported BrahMos to the Philippines, is set to strike an export deal with Vietnam.
Ahead of the visit of Putin to India, reports suggested that India and Russia have been holding talks on cooperating in the field of hypersonic as well as air-to-air missiles with longer ranges.
Sources said during the visit of Putin, the talks on BrahMos are expected to happen, apart from discussions on Russia offering Su-57 fighter jets and additional batches of S-400 air defence systems.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov had recently highlighted the joint production of BrahMos missiles and described the venture as an example of the exchange of high technologies. "We are developing quite a variety of very complicated systems. We are ready to share with India our experience," he had said.