India Sets Sights on 12,000 km Strategic Bomber with BrahMos Missiles Onboard
India is reportedly preparing to enter an elite class of nations by developing a next-generation strategic bomber capable of striking targets over 12,000 kilometers away. Internally referred to as the Ultra Long-Range Strike Aircraft (ULRA), this ambitious project—if realized—could mark a pivotal shift in India’s military posture from regional defense to intercontinental deterrence and global power projection.
However, it's important to note that this development has not been officially confirmed by the Indian government or the Ministry of Defence. The information comes from a recent article by The Economic Times, which cites unnamed defense officials and project insiders. As such, the ULRA currently remains a conceptual or speculative project, not a sanctioned or publicized defense program.
A Game-Changer in Airpower – On Paper
According to the report, the ULRA is envisioned as a stealth-capable, long-endurance strategic bomber that can carry both conventional and nuclear payloads. The aircraft is expected to feature variable-geometry wings, similar to the Russian Tupolev Tu-160 'Blackjack', allowing it to optimize speed, maneuverability, and fuel efficiency mid-flight.
The projected range of 12,000 km would place the ULRA in the same strategic category as the Tu-160 and even surpass the United States’ upcoming B-21 Raider, whose range is estimated around 9,300 km. Such reach would allow India to conduct strategic strikes across Europe, North America, and the Indo-Pacific without refueling, significantly boosting its nuclear second-strike capability and power projection footprint.
The bomber is also expected to incorporate stealth technologies, radar-absorbing materials, electronic warfare suites, and carry weapons like BrahMos-NG supersonic missiles, Agni-1P short-range ballistic missiles, precision-guided munitions, and anti-radiation weapons—making it a versatile asset for both conventional and nuclear operations.
Foreign Collaboration and Engine Challenges
The ULRA is reported to be a collaborative effort between DRDO, HAL, and the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). However, India may still depend on foreign partners for critical technologies such as high-bypass turbofan engines, advanced avionics, and stealth composites. Russia and France are believed to be the leading contenders for collaboration, especially in the areas of engine design and stealth coatings.
One of the most complex components of the project is the engine. A platform like ULRA would require a high-thrust, long-endurance engine with a low infrared signature. Speculations suggest India is evaluating possibilities such as Russia’s NK-32 engine (used in the Tu-160) or a scaled-up variant of the GE F414 engine currently being indigenously produced for the Tejas Mk2 fighter.
Reality Check: Is India Ready for a Strategic Bomber?
While the idea of a strategic bomber fits neatly into India's evolving defense narrative, many experts believe the country is not currently pursuing a full-fledged bomber project—at least not one as complex and resource-intensive as the ULRA.
India is still developing the Ghatak UCAV (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle), a project that has faced technological and funding hurdles over the past decade. Experts argue that any future manned bomber platform would likely evolve only after the successful deployment of Ghatak, by scaling up its airframe, enhancing endurance, and incorporating powerful engines and advanced stealth systems.
Aerospace analysts also point out that India’s focus has traditionally been on ballistic missile capabilities and nuclear submarines to maintain its strategic deterrence. Developing and maintaining a strategic bomber fleet would require a significant doctrinal shift, as well as massive investment in infrastructure, global basing options, mid-air refueling, and maintenance logistics.
Strategic Timing or Media Overreach?
The timing of such a speculative report coincides with rising regional tensions, especially with China’s H-20 stealth bomber reportedly nearing operational status. The United States is also actively modernizing its bomber fleet, and Russia continues to field the Tu-160 and Tu-95 platforms. In this context, some Indian defense thinkers may see the ULRA as an aspirational platform to balance power dynamics in the Indo-Pacific.
However, others view this as media overreach or premature speculation. With India still working to fully operationalize projects like Tejas Mk2, AMCA, and Ghatak UCAV, a complex platform like ULRA could be decades away, if pursued at all.
A Strategic Vision or a Future Dream?
While the concept of the ULRA is undoubtedly bold and futuristic—one that could redefine India’s role as a true aerospace power—it is crucial to recognize that no official confirmation or budgetary allocation exists for such a bomber program yet. The report from The Economic Times offers an exciting glimpse into what India might pursue in the next decade, but for now, it remains an unverified proposal.
In all likelihood, India’s focus will remain on developing unmanned combat platforms, fifth-generation fighters, and hypersonic weapons in the near term. If the Ghatak UCAV and AMCA projects succeed, they could pave the way for a future bomber like ULRA.
Until then, the idea of an Indian 12,000-km-range stealth bomber remains more ambition than reality—a concept to watch, but not yet a part of India’s strategic arsenal.
