India on November 22 has successfully flight-tested theBrahMos supersonic cruise air variantmissile of from a Sukhoi SU-30MKI fighter jet to hit a sea-based target in the Bay of Bengal, completing the country’s tactical cruise missile triad.This was the first test of the missile’s air version against a target. The heavyweight missile, integrated with the long-range fighter, is seen as a force multiplier for the Indian Air Force.
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Brahmos ALCM, which weighs 2.5 tonnes, is the heaviest weapon to be deployed on India’s Su-30 fighter aircraft. It has a range of 290 km. BrahMos, the world’s “fastest supersonic cruise missile with a multi-platform, multi-mission role, is now capable of being launched from land, sea and air,” a Defence Ministry statement said in New Delhi. The statement added, “BrahMos created history on November 22 after it was successfully flight-tested for the first time from the IAF frontline fighter aircraft Sukhoi-30MKI against a sea-based target in the Bay of Bengal,BrahMos ALCM, weighing 2.5 tonnes, is the heaviest weapon to be deployed on India’s Su-30 aircraft, modified by Hindustan Aeronautical Ltd to carry weapons,”
The missile was gravity dropped from the Su-30MKI from its fuselage, and the two-stage missile’s engine fired up and was propelled towards the intended target in the Bay of Bengal.The missile test was witnessed by Sudhir Mishra, Director General (BrahMos), and CEO and MD, BrahMos Aerospace, along with IAF officials, scientists and officials from DRDO and BrahMos. The land and sea variants of Brahmos are already operational with the Army and the Navy. Recently, the range variants were upgraded from 290 km to 450 km after India joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).
BrahMos is a joint venture between India and Russia, by which it is named after the Brahmaputra and Moscowa rivers. BrahMos is a joint venture between the Defence Research and Development Organisation of India and NPOM of Russia.
