India Test-Fires BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile: A Major Success
India Test-Fires BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile: A Major Success
India has successfully test-fired an advanced version of the 290 km range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from Odisha coast. The missile was test-fired from a mobile launcher at the Integrated Test Range from Chandipur on the Odisha Coast at 10:40 am, according to DRDO. The missile is also capable of carrying a conventional 300 kg warhead. This is currently a developmental trial of BrahMos, according to Ravi Kumar Gupta who is the senior defence scientist and director at the Directorate of Public Interface at the DRDO.
The 2 stage missile comprises the first on being solid and the second one being ramjet liquid propellant. This has already been inducted in to the Army and Navy while it is in the final stages of trial in the Air Force version, according to an official as quoted by media reports.
While the induction of the first version of BrahMos system in the Indian Navy began from the year 2005, with the missile being deployed onboard INS Rajput, the missile system is now completely operational within 2 regiments of the Army.
BrahMos Aerospace, an Indo-Russian JV is also working for the development of the air and submarine versions of the missile system. The work on the projects is in progress. The army has also placed orders for the induction of the BrahMos missile by 3 of the regiments and 2 of these have already become operational.
The Defence Ministry has also given a green signal to the Army to induct the new third regiment with the missile system for deployment in Arunachal Pradesh. The missile was developed by the Indo-Russian JV BramHos Aerospace has a high speed of Mach 2.8 which is 3 times faster than the US subsonic Tomahawk cruise missile. Therefore, BrahMos is one of the fastest cruise missiles in the world.
The missile was launched from aircrafts, ships and submarines. Sea and ground launched versions of the missile have been test-fired and have become operational with the army and navy.
MD and CEO of BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited (BAPL) A. Sivanthu Pillai indicated that it was a textbook launch achieving 100 percent results. This development flight trial has achieved a record when it comes to successful mission. The missile system has integrated with multiple navigation satellites powered by new software algorithm without a homing device has also achieved record levels of accuracy further enhancing the precision capability against hidden land targets including the mountainous regions.
The missile system also accomplished supersonic steep dive capability against difficult land targets apart from realising airframe which are both composite and metallic built by Indian industries tested and evaluated for providing substantial increase in indigenously produced content in the missile.
All the telemetry and tracking stations including naval ships near terminal points were able to track the missile all along its pre-designated path. Having achieved its success, BrahMos has become the supersonic cruise missile with the most advanced capabilities. Its a good step forward for the Indian defence system.
