AMN
The Brahmos supersonic cruise missile was today successfully test fired for the first time from the Indian Air Force’s frontline Sukhoi-30 MKI combat jet, significantly bolstering the country’s aerial prowess.
The air-launched BrahMos missile is a 2.5-ton supersonic air to surface cruise missile with ranges of more than 400 kms. The IAF is the first Air Force in the world to have successfully fired an air-launched 2.8 Mach surface attack missile of this category.
The defence ministry said the missile hit a sea-based target in the Bay of Bengal from the combat jet. The land and warship versions of the missile have already been inducted into the armed forces.
The defence ministry said, the successful maiden test firing of Brahmos Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) from Su-30MKI will significantly bolster the IAF’s air combat operations capability from stand-off ranges.
Giving details of the test firing, the ministry said the missile was “gravity dropped” from the Su-30 fuselage, and the two-stage missile’s engine fired up and straightway propelled towards the intended target at the sea.
Brahmos ALCM, weighing 2.5 ton is the heaviest weapon to be deployed on India’s Su-30 fighter aircraft modified by state-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to carry weapons.
Brahmos is a joint venture between DRDO of India and NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOM) of Russia.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated all those associated with the maiden test fire of Brahmos Air Launched Missile.
In a tweet, Mr Modi said he is delighted on the remarkable feat.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that India has created a world record and completed Supersonic Cruise Missile Triad by successfully test firing of Brahmos from Indian Air Force Sukhoi-30MKI fighter aircraft.
In a tweet, she congratulated the team Brahmos and DRDO for the historic achievement.