Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) unveiled a next-generation short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) at a defense exhibition in Hyderabad. Dubbed as the BM-04, the new missile is akin to the already deployed Agni-P nuclear-armed missile, with a range specific to striking Pakistan. The BM-04 reflects the ongoing efforts undertaken by India to develop and deploy advanced conventionally armed ballistic missiles with enhanced speed, maneuverability, and precision. The missile’s existence indicates that New Delhi seeks to develop a robust conventional counterforce capability.
The BM-04 is 10.2 meters long, 1.2 meters in diameter and weighs 11,500 kg. The missile has a two-stage solid-fuel propulsion system; it can engage targets located at a maximum distance of up to 1,500 km, with a 500 kg conventional warhead, and has a 30-meter circular error probability (CEP). It can be deployed using a six-wheel indigenous transport erector launcher (TEL). Like the existing missiles in the Indian arsenal, the BM-04 is canisterized, which allows the warheads to be mated with the delivery systems in advance, thus reducing the time required to fire the projectile.
Once deployed, the BM-04 will be distinct from the previous missiles, as evident in the words of G.A. Srinivasa Murthy, who currently leads the Defense Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), a sub-unit of the DRDO. Murthy stated that the DRDL successfully produced a hypersonic missile with artificial intelligence (AI) assistance in December 2024. This implies that the BM-04 missiles can be regularly upgraded with new warheads, sensors, and propulsion systems as the threat matrix evolves. This will make the BM-04 a robust and reliable system that can withstand future threats.
The BM-04 missile development confirms a military doctrine aimed at conducting limited operations under the nuclear umbrella at conventional and subconventional levels.
India is reportedly on the verge of deploying the BM-04, a next-generation conventional counterforce weapon, significantly enhancing its strategic capabilities and bolstering its deterrence posture. While official details remain under wraps, reports suggest that the BM-04 represents a significant leap forward in India’s missile technology, offering improved accuracy, range, and targeting capabilities.
The development of the BM-04 is understood to be part of India’s ongoing efforts to modernise its armed forces and develop indigenous defence capabilities, a cornerstone of the government’s “Make in India” initiative. Experts believe the missile is designed to target strategic assets and infrastructure, acting as a potent deterrent against potential adversaries.
“The BM-04 is likely designed for precision strikes against high-value targets,” stated Dr. Arati Nair, a defence analyst at the Institute for Strategic Studies in Delhi. “Its development signals India’s commitment to maintaining a credible conventional deterrent. The ability to quickly and accurately neutralize key enemy assets significantly changes the strategic calculus in the region.”
While the precise specifications of the BM-04 remain classified, sources familiar with its development indicate that it likely incorporates advanced guidance systems, including Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) coupled with GPS or other Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). This combination would allow for pinpoint accuracy, even in areas with limited satellite coverage or electronic warfare environments.
The deployment of the BM-04 is expected to further enhance India’s strategic depth and provide a wider range of response options in the event of a conflict. It also underlines India’s growing confidence in its defence research and development capabilities.
“This missile is a testament to the ingenuity of our scientists and engineers at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO),” commented a retired senior officer of the Indian Armed Forces, speaking on condition of anonymity. “It showcases our ability to develop cutting-edge technologies that are critical for national security.”
The introduction of the BM-04 will likely trigger discussions and analyses amongst regional powers and international observers. While India maintains a policy of “No First Use” of nuclear weapons, the development of advanced conventional counterforce weapons like the BM-04 is seen as a crucial element in ensuring a credible and multifaceted deterrent against potential aggression.
Further details regarding the deployment timeline and specific tactical roles of the BM-04 are awaited. However, the emergence of this advanced missile system undoubtedly marks a significant milestone in India’s strategic defense landscape, reinforcing its commitment to peace and stability in the region.
According to its design and features, the BM-04 looks like a derivative of the Agni-P, only the newer version will be used for conventional strike roles. In addition, the missile re-entry vehicle appears similar to a boost glide vehicle, which is expected to attain hypersonic speed based on its outlook. This maneuverable re-entry vehicle can evade the adversary’s air defense systems. With its brisk speed, the BM-04 will engage time-sensitive targets, such as multi-launch rocket systems, ground-based missile launchers, and mobile surface-to-air missile systems. If these assertions are upheld, it will undoubtedly enhance the Indian military’s conventional counterforce capability.
Major General Roopesh Mehta, currently serving as additional director general (ADG) for Capability Development at the Integrated Headquarters of the Indian Army, hinted at the BM-04’s existence in his June 2023 article. In the article, he also emphasized establishing a new conventional rocket force. The BM-04’s development has reaffirmed India’s plans to establish an Integrated Rocket Force (IRF), as it was reported two years ago that the Indian military was considering equipping the newly proposed IRF with a ballistic missile with a range of 1,500 km.
There is more to the BM-04 that meets the eye. New Delhi’s broader objective is to adopt a pre-emptive strike posture. In doing so, India aims to retain an option to conduct precision strikes against Pakistani conventional counterforce targets with high-speed conventional projectiles. It will boost India’s shoot-and-scoot capabilities because the rocket force will have solid fuel missiles in its arsenal, stored in canisters, allowing the military to launch them immediately. In addition, the BM-04 is tailored to neutralize the adversary’s critical infrastructure, including air bases, ammunition dumps, command-and-control centers, cantonments, and logistics nodes.
Why develop a longer-range conventional SRBM, even though the Indian military has already developed the Pralay, capable of destroying targets at a range of up to 500 km? With the operationalization of the BM-04, India can store these weapons deep into its territory, thus making it challenging for Pakistan’s conventional ground and air-based platforms to hit the missile launchers and storage sites.
If a missile regiment equipped with the BM-04 is stationed in the periphery of India’s XXI Corps (Strike Corps) headquarters, for example, it can easily take out targets located on Pakistan’s western borders. For Pakistan to strike potential BM-04 launch sites in Bhopal, Pakistan’s air force aircraft would have to travel some 100-150 kilometers deep into Indian territory before they can launch a Taimoor air-launched cruise missile with a possible range of 600 km. Pakistan’s ground-launched long-range conventional system, the Fatah-II, can only target a maximum distance of 400 km. The scenario implies that India’s BM-04 systems will have the luxury to strike potential targets in Pakistan from a safer distance.
Missiles can be built anytime, depending on the leadership’s approval. However, New Delhi’s mindset to effectively engage Islamabad’s conventional counterforce is dangerous. The BM-04 missile development confirms a military doctrine aimed at conducting limited operations under the nuclear umbrella at conventional and subconventional levels. The region’s strategic stability is not threatened by the BM-04, per se, but by the mindset that prevails in New Delhi.
