The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Friday successfully test-fired an advanced version of supersonic BrahMos missile capable of hitting a target at 290 km in Pokhran firing range in Rajasthan. The land-attack missile met all technical parameters during the flight and hit the designated target. Army, Navy and IAF have inducted these missiles, a joint venture of India and Russia.
The test to validate the missile system was conducted at 12 pm in Pokhran. It met all parameters in a copybook manner, officials said here. The IAF has raised a BrahMos squadron, comprising 50 missiles, to hit targets like enemy radars and communication systems near the borders to prevent the enemy from tracking and targetting IAF planes.
However, the air-to-air version of BrahMos is yet to take off. IAF plans to deploy these missiles on its frontline aircraft SU-30 and two of them are now undergoing modifications to mount the missiles, officials said adding the project will take some time.
Meanwhile, in a statement, the BrahMos Aerospace said the missile system on numerous occasions has established its supremacy in the world of supersonic cruise missile. “I congratulate the IAF for successfully accomplishing such a complex mission.
BrahMos has proved its mettle once again as the best supersonic cruise missile system in the world,” Sudhir Mishra, CEO & MD of BrahMos Aerospace, said. Defence Research and Development Drganisation (DRDO) chief S Christopher too congratulated the IAF, BrahMos team, and DRDO scientists involved in the successful mission.
The accuracy in mountain warfare mode was recently re-established in a campaign conducted by the Indian Army in the eastern sector last year and repeated last month. This missile system has empowered all three wings of the armed forces with impeccable anti-ship and land attack capability. Some countries have evinced interest in Brahmos missile from India and the government is vetting the proposals.