The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) is reportedly showing keen interest in acquiring the Indian-made BrahMos missile for its fleet of Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighter jets. According to an Indian defence website which did not disclose its source, the variant under consideration is the Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM).
The BrahMos ALCM, capable of striking targets up to 290 km away, would significantly enhance the Su-30MKM’s maritime strike capabilities. The RMAF operates 18 Su-30MKM jets, which are a key component of its air power.
However, the integration of the missile onto the Su-30MKM may require structural modifications, as experienced by the Indian Air Force (IAF) with its Su-30MKI aircraft. The IAF had to undertake structural reinforcement of the Su-30MKI to accommodate the 2.5-ton BrahMos ALCM.
Given the similarity between the RMAF’s Su-30MKM and the IAF’s Su-30MKI, it is likely that the RMAF would need to carry out similar modifications to its aircraft. This work would involve reinforcing the airframe to withstand the forces generated during the missile’s launch.
Should the RMAF pursue the plan further, it may need to collaborate with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), the company responsible for modifying the Su-30MKI to carry the BrahMos missile. HAL also assembled the majority of the IAF’s Su-30MKI aircraft, of which there are over 250 in service.
The potential acquisition of the missile by the RMAF could signify closer defence ties between Malaysia and India. The timing coincides with Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to India to meet the country’s leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the visit, Anwar and Modi will witness the signing of agreements between companies and government agencies from both countries, although it remains unclear if these include defence-related deals.
The BrahMos missile, a supersonic cruise missile developed from Russia’s P-800 Onyx missile, can reach speeds of Mach 2.8-3. It is capable of being launched from various platforms, including warships, mobile launch vehicles, and fighter aircraft. The missile has a range of 290 km, with an extended-range variant capable of reaching approximately 350 km, and it can carry a 300 kg warhead.
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