Extended 400 km Range BrahMos Missile Test Fired From Sukhoi Fighter

NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force today successfully test- fired the extended range version of the BrahMos missile on air, launching it from Su-30 MKI fighter jet against a target ship at the desired distance.

The extended range of the BrahMos missile will enable it to take out targets in sea from a distance of 400 km away.

The supersonic cruise missile "achieved the desired mission objectives in the Bay of Bengal region and with the successful test, the Indian Air Force achieved a capability boost to carry out precision strikes from Su-30 fighter aircraft against land/ sea targets over long ranges," the defence ministry said in a statement.

The statement added that the extended range capability of the missile, when coupled with the SU-30MKI aircraft's high performance, provides the Indian Air Force with strategic reach and which allows it to 'dominate the future battle fields.'

It was a joint effort by the Air Force, Indian Navy, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and the BrahMos Aerospace (BAPL) that culminated in the successful test firing.

The supersonic missile's extended-range version was successfully tested from the Sukhoi fighter in May this year, when the extended range was reportedly increased from 290 km to 350 km.

It was the first instance in May in which the BrahMos missile was test fired from the Su-30MKI fighter jet and the test came out successful.

A two-stage solid propellant booster engine comprises the first stage of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, which takes it to supersonic speed. The liquid ramjet engine in the second stage is what takes it closer to Mach 3 (3 times the speed of sound) speed in the cruise phase.

The BrahMos missile is enabled for multiple platforms and can be launched from virtually any surface, be it air, land, and sea platforms. Working on the 'Fire and Forget principle,' the missile maintains a high supersonic speed throughout the flight and is said to have a low radar signature.

The BrahMos is a joint-venture between the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Russian Federation's NPO Mashinostroyeniya, who together have formed BrahMos Aerospace. The name BrahMos is a combination name derived from the names of two rivers, our own Brahmaputra and the Moskva of Russia.

There are number of variants: Ship-launched, Land-launched, Submarine-launched, Airplane-launched, BrahMos-II, BrahMos-NG, and BrahMos-ER

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