India Builds 'Baby BrahMos' For Rs 2.3 Crore, France Eyes Deal As US System Costs 10x More

Last Updated:February 24, 2026, 12:58 IST

DRDO's air-launched Pinaka offers cost-efficient precision strikes for India, rivaling BrahMos and attracting French interest, while Israel proposes 'Golden Horizon' to India

At a time when major military powers are investing heavily in stand-off strike systems capable of hitting hardened targets deep inside hostile territory, India is quietly reshaping the cost calculus of modern warfare. From intercontinental ballistic missiles that can travel thousands of kilometres to precision-guided tactical weapons designed for battlefield dominance, the global arms race is increasingly centred on range, speed and survivability.

At the centre of recent attention is the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and its evolution of the Pinaka Rocket System, a system originally developed for the Indian Army as a multi-barrel rocket launcher. Known for its precision and reliability, Pinaka has now been adapted into an air-launched configuration, a move that significantly broadens its operational envelope.

Defence officials indicate that the objective behind the air-launched variant was to achieve an effect comparable to high-end stand-off weapons, but at a fraction of the cost. Each unit of the Pinaka system is estimated to cost around Rs 2.3 crore. By comparison, similar American systems, such as the widely deployed M142 HIMARS, can cost nearly Rs 20 crore per unit.

If sourced from abroad, such capabilities would come at nearly 10 times the price. Instead, Indian scientists have engineered a domestic alternative that defence observers describe as cost-efficient without compromising on lethality.

According to reports in defence circles, countries including France have shown interest in the system. The French Army is understood to be evaluating Pinaka as a potential successor to its ageing rocket artillery platforms, which are scheduled for retirement later this decade. While no formal agreement has been announced, assessments suggest that Pinaka has emerged as a leading contender in comparative trials.

Why An Air Version When BrahMos Exists?

The development of an air-launched Pinaka inevitably raises comparisons with the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, long regarded as one of India’s most formidable strike weapons.

BrahMos travels at speeds approaching Mach 3, powered by a ramjet engine that uses atmospheric air to sustain supersonic velocity. Designed for large-scale surgical strikes, it can neutralise warships, fortified bunkers and command centres while flying at low altitude to evade radar detection. Each missile, however, comes at a cost estimated between Rs 35-Rs 40 crore.

Pinaka, by contrast, is powered by solid fuel, burning through its propellant rapidly at launch to generate high velocity. The air-launched version has reportedly been redesigned to fit fighter aircraft, with its length reduced to approximately 4.8 metres. Once released from high altitude, it uses aerodynamic surfaces to glide towards its target, capable of mid-course manoeuvres that complicate interception.

Unlike a conventional ballistic trajectory, the modified configuration allows for greater path flexibility. Defence analysts describe it as a tactical precision system meant for limited-area destruction, targeting enemy tank columns, troop concentrations, airfields and forward logistics hubs, rather than large strategic infrastructure.

Put simply, where BrahMos is designed for high-value, heavily defended assets, Pinaka fills the gap for rapid, precision engagement at significantly lower cost. Both are lethal; their roles differ in scale and application.

Parallel Strategic Conversations With Israel

India’s expanding strike doctrine is not confined to indigenous systems. In parallel developments, Israel has reportedly proposed supplying India with the Golden Horizon Air-Launched Ballistic Missile, a deep-strike platform believed to be derived from the Silver Sparrow target missile used in missile defence trials.

Though official specifications remain undisclosed, defence reports estimate a range of 1,000-2,000 kilometres. If inducted, the missile would likely integrate with the IAF’s Sukhoi Su-30MKI fleet, substantially extending stand-off capability.

Israel has previously supplied India with systems such as LORA and Rampage, primarily battlefield strike weapons with shorter ranges. Golden Horizon, however, is assessed to be in a different category altogether, designed to penetrate hardened and deeply buried targets including reinforced bunkers and underground facilities.

As an air-launched ballistic missile, it would climb steeply after release before descending at extreme velocity, potentially approaching hypersonic speeds in its terminal phase. The kinetic energy generated at impact is expected to enhance penetration capability against fortified structures.

The twin developments including the indigenous air-launched Pinaka and the reported Israeli proposal, reflect a layered approach to modern warfare. Tactical battlefield rockets, supersonic cruise missiles and potential air-launched ballistic systems together create a spectrum of options, from limited-area precision to deep strategic penetration.

For India, which continues to modernise its air and missile forces amid shifting regional security dynamics, cost efficiency is emerging as a decisive advantage. A Rs 2.3-crore rocket capable of precision air delivery changes procurement mathematics not only for India but also for potential export partners.

News india India Builds 'Baby BrahMos' For Rs 2.3 Crore, France Eyes Deal As US System Costs 10x More

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