Greek Push for BrahMos Missile Against Turkey's S-400: Indo-Russian Defense Collaboration

 In 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Greece paved the way for potential cooperation between India and Greece, particularly in defense. Greek media has been increasingly vocal about acquiring the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from India to counter Turkey's activities in the Aegean Sea and the Sea of Crete.

During Prime Minister Modi's visit, the first by an Indian prime minister in four decades, discussions were held regarding collaboration in various sectors, including defense. The subsequent reciprocal visit by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in February 2024 further solidified bilateral relations.

Greek media outlets, notably the Greece City Times, have advocated for deploying BrahMos missiles on the eastern Aegean islands to strengthen Greece's naval capabilities. This move is seen as a strategic response to Turkey's assertive actions in the region.

Emmanuel Marios Economou and Nikos K. Kyriazis, academics at the University of Thessaly, have endorsed the acquisition of BrahMos missiles, arguing that it would significantly enhance Greece's maritime defense capabilities. They highlight the cost-effectiveness of BrahMos compared to traditional naval vessels.

The BrahMos missile, a joint venture between India and Russia, has garnered interest from several countries, including Greece. Its advanced features, such as supersonic speed and low-altitude flight capability, make it an attractive option for naval defense.

The potential deployment of BrahMos missiles in Greece has implications for regional dynamics, particularly in countering Turkey's "Blue Homeland" concept, which asserts territorial claims over the Aegean and Mediterranean seas.

As tensions between India and Turkey persist, Greece's interest in BrahMos signifies a potential alignment of interests between Athens and New Delhi. The deployment of BrahMos missiles in the Aegean Sea could alter the regional balance of power, challenging Turkey's assertiveness in the region.

IAF Reveals Causes Behind Accidental BrahMos Missile Launch into Pakistan

 The Indian Air Force (IAF) has publicly disclosed the reasons behind the accidental firing of a BrahMos combat missile into Pakistan in March 2022. According to a response submitted to the Delhi High Court, the IAF attributed the incident to the combat connectors of the BrahMos missile remaining connected to the junction box, leading to the unintended firing.

Sharing key findings from the Court of Inquiry conducted to investigate the incident, the IAF explained that the convoy commander overseeing the movement of a road convoy failed to ensure the safe transit by not disconnecting the combat connectors of all loaded missiles on the mobile autonomous launcher before the movement commenced.

Describing the incident as having a significant impact on India-Pakistan relations, the IAF informed the court that a decision was made to invoke the "President's pleasure" clause to terminate the services of three officials involved. This decision, unprecedented in the IAF for 23 years, was deemed necessary considering the sensitive nature of the case and its potential repercussions on national security.

The IAF clarified that conducting a court martial trial for the three officers was deemed impractical, as it would divulge sensitive information to the public domain, potentially compromising security interests. Similarly, initiating action under Section 19 of the Air Force Act, 1950, was considered unsuitable, as it could expose sensitive issues detrimental to the state's security.

The Court of Inquiry concluded that the combat crew, despite being aware of the connected combat connectors, failed to intervene to prevent the unsafe act of launching the combat missile, resulting in its inadvertent firing into a neighboring nation. This incident not only posed a potential threat to airborne and ground assets but also damaged the reputation of the Indian Air Force and the nation, incurring a financial loss to the government exchequer.