Kolkata Class Weapon Systems

The missile systems include 32 Barak 8 (LR-SAM) air defense missiles & 16 Brahmos anti ship missiles with extra space available for future add ons. Other weapon systems include a 76mm main gun, 4 AK-630M 30mm guns, 2 RBU-6000 ASW rocket launchers and 2 twin 533mm torpedo launchers.

The ships seems to have space for future installation of more VLS systems for new missiles such as Hypersonic Brahmos, Barak 8 ER, Nirbhay, etc. Each Kolkata class destroyer had a cost of about $950 million.

Kolkata Class sensors and electronic warfare systems

Kolkata Class weapon systems

BrahMos Missile

BrahMos is an anti ship, sea skimming, supersonic cruise missile, whose high speed of up to mach 3 makes it very difficult to intercept.

BrahMos is based on the Russian P-800 Oniks cruise missile. It is a joint venture between the Russian Federation’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya and India’s Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) who together have formed BrahMos Aerospace. The name BrahMos is formed from the names of two rivers, the Brahmaputra of India and the Moskva of Russia.

The BrahMos missile

BrahMos is a two-stage missile with a solid propellant booster engine as its first stage which brings it to supersonic speed and then gets separated. The liquid ramjet or the second stage then takes the missile closer to Mach 3 speed in cruise phase. In addition to making it difficult to intercept, the high speed also imparts a greater destructive power due to large kinetic energy on impact.

The missile has a flight range of up to 450 km with supersonic speed all throughout the flight, leading to shorter flight time, consequently ensuring lower dispersion of targets, quicker engagement time and non-interception by any known weapon system in the world.

It operates on the ‘Fire and Forget Principle’, adopting varieties of flights on its way to the target. Its cruising altitude could be up to 15 km and terminal altitude is as low as 4–5 meters. It carries a conventional warhead weighing 200 Kg.

BrahMos can be launched in single or in a salvo from a ship towards single or different types of targets within an interval of 2–2.5 seconds in various trajectories.

BrahMos is equipped with stealth technology designed to make it less visible to radar and other detection methods.

The BrahMos VLS launcher

It has an inertial navigation system (INS) for use against ship targets, and an INS/Global Positioning System for use against land targets. Terminal guidance is achieved through an active/passive radar. The missile’s mid-course guidance is provided by Inertial Navigation System and the terminal course guidance by homing radar seeker. GPS/GLONASS can be added for augmenting the accuracy

The latest navigation system uses an Indian chip called G3OM (GPS, GLONASS, GAGAN on a Module). The system weighs around 17 grams, and gives accuracy within five meters using Indian, US and Russian navigation satellites. The system can be used in tandem with and Inertial Navigation System (INS) to provide high-accuracy targeting without using any seeker.

Although BrahMos was primarily an anti-ship missile, the BrahMos Block III can also engage land-based targets. It can be launched either in a vertical or inclined position and is capable of covering targets over a 360-degree horizon. Block III had advanced guidance and upgraded software, incorporating high manoeuvres at multiple points and steep dive from high altitude. The steep dive capability of the Block III enables it to hit targets hidden behind a mountain range.

Key Features

“Fire and Forget” principle of operation

High supersonic speed all throughout the flight

Long flight range with varieties of flight trajectories

Low radar signature

Shorter flight times leading to lower target dispersion and quicker engagement

Pin point accuracy with high lethal power aided by large kinetic energy on impact

Salvo launch capability, where multiple missiles can be fired in different trajectories to hit a single or group of targets

The missile’s mid-course guidance is provided by Inertial Navigation System and the terminal course guidance by homing radar seeker. GPS/GLONASS can be added for augmenting the accuracy

Technical Specs: PJ-10 Brahmos, anti ship version

Size: Length: 8.4 m. Diameter: 0.67 m. Wingspan: 1.7 m

Launch Weight: 3,000 kg

Warhead: 200 kg

Guidance: Mid-course: inertial guidance (INS). Terminal guidance: active radar homing GPS/GLONASS/GAGAN satellite guidance

Propulsion: First stage:

Maximum Range: 450 km (To be upgraded to 600 km)

Maximum Speed: Mach 3

Flight ceiling: 14 km (46,000 ft)sea skimming

Sea Skimming Altitude: As low as 3–4 meters

Accuracy: Within 5 meters CEP

Propulsion: First stage: Solid fuel rocket booster

Propulsion: Second stage: Liquid-fueled ramjet