Defence News India: In a major boost to its offensive land-attack capacity, the Indian Air Force Tuesday successfully fired the air version of supersonic cruise missile BrahMos from its frontline Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft. The missile jointly developed by India and Russia has a range of 290 kilometers and it also has different versions for use by the army, navy and airforce.
“The launch from the aircraft was smooth and the missile followed the desired trajectory and achieved a direct hit on the sea target, off Odisha Coast line,” said the ministry of defence.
The air launched BrahMos missile, designed and developed by BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited (BAPL), is a 2.5 ton supersonic air to surface cruise missile with ranges close to 300 km.
With the successful test, the Indian Air Force has became the first Air Force in the world to have successfully fired an air launched Trisonic class surface attack missile of this category on a sea target on November 22, 2017.
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This was followed by a second live launch over a land target on May 22, 2019.
Tuesday’s launch is the third in the series of live firing of the weapon from the aircraft.
“The integration of the missile on Su-30MKI aircraft, is complete,” said the defence ministry after successful firing of Brahmos air version missile from the fighter.
The software development and integration of weapon of the aircraft was undertaken by the IAF engineers while HAL carried out complex mechanical and electrical modifications on aircraft.
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Commending the role played by different agencies, the ministry of defenc said that the dedicated and synergetic efforts of the IAF, DRDO, BAPL, HAL have made the nation proud.
The firing was successfully undertaken with dedicated support from Indian Navy.
The BrahMos missile provides Indian Air Force a much desired capability to strike form large stand-off ranges on any target at sea or on land with pinpoint accuracy by day or night and in all weather conditions.
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The capability of the missile coupled with the high performance of the Su-30MKI aircraft gives the IAF a strategic reach and allows it to dominate the battle fields over land and sea.
