Big deal for IAF: BrahMos test-fired from Sukhoi
NEW DELHI :In a major milestone, 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 armed forces are now capable of launching the Brahmos, which has a strike range of around 290 km and is described as the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile, from land, sea and air, completing the tactical cruise missile triad for the country.
In what is being seen as a massive shot in the arm for the Indian Air Force, the marriage of world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile and a fighter jet will add to air combat operations capability.
The anti-ship missile was gravity-dropped from the Sukhoi-30MKI or Su-30 from the fuselage. The two-stage missile`s engine fired up and propelled towards the intended target at the sea in Bay of Bengal.
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.
The BrahMos is now capable of being launched from land, sea and air, completing the tactical cruise missile triad for India.Targets deep within enemy territory can now be hit with extreme precision from a safe distance. This is because the missile have a range of 290 kms. This also mitigates the risk of jets being targetted by air defence systems that may be in place to protect target areas.
Brahmos is a joint venture between DRDO of India and NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOM) of Russia.“Brahmos, the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile created history on today after it was successfully flight- tested for first time from the IAF’s frontline fighter aircraft Sukhoi-30MKI against a sea based target in the Bay of Bengal,” the defence ministry said.
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.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman congratulated the “Team Brahmos” and the scientists at Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the “historic achievement”.
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.Dr S Christopher, Chairman of DRDO, congratulated the scientists and engineers for the “excellent text book kind of flight test“.
The missile test was witnessed by Dr Sudhir Mishra, Director General (BrahMos), along with senior IAF officials, scientists and officials from DRDO and BrahMos.
