Battle-ready: Amid China Row, India Tests BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile
With threats from neighbouring China on the rise, India has launched a series of tests of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile with the successful operational firing of the ground attack version of the weapon on Nov. 24 from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands region .
“The Indian Army successfully launched a 290-km range BrahMos missile as part of a multiple live test programme in a top-attack configuration, hitting a target in the Bay of Bengal with pin point accuracy. The deadly non-nuclear weapon flew almost three times the speed of sound at Mach 2.8,” an official at BrahMos told Asian Defence Technology.
The Indo-Russian developed BrahMos land-attack missiles are already deployed in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh bordering China, which is making aggressive postures along the borders.
The Land based Weapon Complex comprises four to six Mobile Autonomous Launchers (MAL) controlled by a Mobile Command Post (MCP), and a Mobile Replenishment Vehicle (MRV). MAL is an autonomous vehicle with its own communication, power supply and fire control system.
Three BrahMos missiles placed in three independent containers are installed on the MAL. The missiles can be fired on three different targets or in a variety of other combinations near simultaneously. The land based version is also equipped with Inertial Navigation System and Global Positioning System.
All three services of the Indian military have the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile in their arsenal. The Navy and the Air Force — which have equipped its Sukhoi Su-30 MKI fighters with the missile — are also likely to carry out tests this week.
“Plans are on the anvil to extend the range of the missile to hit a target in the 800 km range. This is expected to be tested in mid-2021,” the official informs.
The Indian military is already preparing to make the enhanced version of BrahMos with a strike range of 400 km. The version has been successfully tested three to four times and is expected to be operational soon.
“We are also working on a 1,500-km range missile,” the official adds. “Initially it will be a land-based missile, but once proved successful, it will only need minor modifications to fire from the air and water.”
The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile can be launched from a submarine, a ship of water, an aircraft, or even the ground. This missile can be launched from a depth of 40 to 50 meters in water.
The air-launched version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, with an operational range of about 300 km, recently received combat clearance.
“The missile system has received ‘fleet release clearance’ from the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification of Defence Research and Development Organisation,” the official says.
The air force version called the BrahMos Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) – was successfully test-fired for the first time from the Sukhoi-30MKI aircraft against a sea-based target in the Bay of Bengal in November 2017.
In May 2019, India again successfully test-fired the missile from its frontline Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter aircraft, paving the way for the induction of the missile into its air force.
“The fleet release clearance was the final clearance and now the Indian Air Force (IAF) can deploy all the fighter jets equipped with BrahMos in a combat mission,” the official adds.
BrahMos is a joint venture between DRDO of India and NPO Mashinostoyenia (NPOM) of Russia. NPOM is part of Tactical Missile Armament corporation.
The Brazilian aerospace company, Embraer, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AICAT (Austrian Industrial Cooperation & Aviation Technology) to…
Qatar’s Hamad International Airport (DOH) announced that it has reclaimed the title of the "World’s Best Airport" at the prestigious…
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) joined the Sharp Technics K (STK) and Incheon International Airport Corporation for a ceremony heralding the…
Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions division has forged a strategic alliance and reseller agreement with Rancher Government Solutions (RGS), a provider of…
Saudia, the national airline of Saudi Arabia, has experienced a significant surge in brand value, as indicated by the latest…
The ongoing eruption of Mount Ruang in the Siau Islands regency, North Sulawesi, Indonesia has caused significant disruptions to air…
Scoot, the low-cost arm of Singapore Airlines, recently received the first Embraer E190-E2 aircraft at Changi Airport. "We are excited…
The first of two Fincantieri-built PPA (Pattugliatore Polivalente d'Altura - offshore multi-purpose patrol vessel) for the Indonesian Navy is expected…
Thailand’s DTI (Defence Technology Institute) and the Royal Thai Army recently conducted a successful test of the DTI-STD-003 bridge layer…
Eve Air Mobility has signed a letter of intent with AirX, Japan’s largest public helicopter air charter service, for up…
L3Harris Technologies has received a US$256 million order from the U.S. Army for continued production of the Enhanced Night Vision…
The Missile Defense Agency has selected Lockheed Martin to deliver the nation's new homeland missile defense capability, the Next Generation…
Collins Aerospace will introduce two major upgrades to the Ascentia software platform. Ascentia is a software solution for aircraft reliability management that…
Pratt & Whitney Canada's PT6A engine recently surpassed 25 million flight hours and 40 years of powering the Cessna Caravan…
The US Army deployed its Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile system to Northern Luzon, Philippines for the first time. This deployment…
Milrem Robotics has secured a contract to deliver an undisclosed quantity of THeMIS UGVs (Unmanned Ground Vehicles) to the Japanese…
CMA CGM Air Cargo is set to expand its service by launching a transpacific route connecting Asia to North America…
Eve Air Mobility (Eve) has designated Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI) as the supplier for the pylons of its electric…
Emirates SkyCargo, the cargo arm of one of the two flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has established…
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has secured a contract to supply a Multi-Sensor Multi-Mission Radar (MS-MMR) system for the air defence…
The first Embraer E190F, a jet converted from passenger transport to freighter (E-Freighter), successfully concluded its inaugural flight in São…
The Government of Greece officially announced its plans to purchase 35 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters from Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin…
Cathay Cargo resumed its Ho Chi Minh City freighter service on April 4, 2024, after a four-year hiatus due to…
Skykraft has secured approval from the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) for its spectrum filing for a constellation of 2976 satellites.…
The U.S. Navy, in partnership with Lockheed Martin, has successfully conducted a historic Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) flight test with…
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing a contract worth up to $559 million over five years to operate, maintain…
Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) introduced the ARBEL, hailed as the world’s first computerized small arms system, on Thursday (Apr. 4).…
Hong Kong’s Government Flying Service (GFS) has integrated the H175 helicopter flight simulator developed by Indra into their training regimen.…
After a hiatus of over 30 years, Air Canada is set to return to Singapore's Changi International Airport with the…
FLY91, India's youngest regional airline, announced a partnership with IBS Software on Wednesday (Apr. 3). Aiming to enhance its commercial…
Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.
Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.
Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us
2024 GBP all rights reserved.