India Bears Rs82 Million Loss as BrahMos Missile Accidentally Targets Pakistan

It was supposed to be a routine test for the supersonic cruise missile BrahMos, which is known for its precision and accuracy. However, this time something went terribly wrong. Instead of hitting the designated target in the Bay of Bengal, the missile took a strange turn and headed towards Pakistan, where it exploded in a deserted area, causing no human loss but creating a political uproar on both sides of the border.

The Indian government immediately launched an investigation into the incident and suspended all future tests of the missile until further notice. The loss of the missile, which costs around Rs82 million ($1.1 million), has raised serious concerns over the safety and reliability of India's missile programme.

• Quantifiable Example 1: The BrahMos missile is a joint venture between India and Russia and is considered one of the deadliest weapons in India's arsenal. It has a range of 290 km and can carry a conventional warhead of up to 300 kg. India has successfully test-fired the missile more than 50 times before this incident.
• Quantifiable Example 2: The suspension of future tests of the missile is expected to delay the induction of the missile in the Indian Armed Forces, which were supposed to receive the missile as early as next year. This delay could hamper India's preparedness in the face of its adversaries, particularly China and Pakistan.

The incident highlights the need for a better safety mechanism and quality control in India's missile programme, which has been marred by several technical glitches and failures in the past. The missile programme is not only a matter of national security but also a matter of national prestige, as it represents India's ability to develop cutting-edge technology and compete with other major powers in the world.

Therefore, it is essential that the government takes a serious note of the incident and takes necessary measures to rectify the shortcomings in the missile programme. Some of the measures that could be taken are:

1. Improving Quality Control: The incident has exposed the loopholes in the quality control mechanism of the missile programme. Therefore, it is important to have a stringent quality control process in place, which ensures the safety and reliability of the missiles.
2. Enhancing Safety Measures: The government should invest in safety measures such as advanced tracking system and onboard self-destruct mechanism, which could prevent the missile from going off course and exploding in unintended locations.
3. Collaborating with International Partners: India should collaborate with international partners such as Russia and the United States, which have a proven track record in missile technology, to learn from their experiences and best practices and to seek their assistance in developing and testing the missiles.

India's missile programme has come a long way since its inception in the 1960s, and has achieved significant milestones in the past few decades. However, there is still a long way to go in terms of improving the safety and reliability of the missiles, and the incident with the BrahMos missile is a wake-up call for the Indian government to take urgent steps to rectify the shortcomings in the programme.